MR

I got a call from my son regarding one of my best friends, Karen, who was now devastated. (Brian is dating Karen's daughter... Stacy got it from Karen, who in turn told my son, who in turn told me. ... anyway, read on). Karen is a location scout for films, and recently worked on the soon-to-be-released "The Soloist". If you are unaware of the story, it revolves around a homeless, mentally challenged man, living on the streets of Los Angeles, and the LA Times writer who helped him rediscover his amazing talent with music. They filmed right on Skid Row, and utilized many of the homeless living down there in both the film and documentary. Working on both the film and documentary highlighted Karen's already amazing compassion, and she took her time off and spent it with many of the homeless she befriended. One, in particular, was KK.

KK was one of Karen's favorites, although homeless, still had a love for life. Karen spent yesterday, Saturday evening, with KK. She handed him the printed out credits for the film, with KK's name appears in the credits. KK said he'd cherish those print outs "for the rest of his life'.

That amounted to about 15 minutes.

KK was searching for another homeless called "Leanne, aka the Cat Lady".... Leanne was no where to be found. Karen had offered to drive KK around downtown LA, looking for her. They ate dinner outside the DWP downtown, and then Karen dropped off KK at a corner, a block away from where Leanne had been living. Karen offered to go with KK...

KK said, "No, go home and go to bed". KK walked the block down to Leanne's place. Karen left, got home in about 15 minutes, and went to bed.

The rumor mill started this morning. KK was dead. Murdered. Shot. Calls were placed, and one of the crew even identified themselves as family to get information. KK's parents didn't know. Karen told them. There was another man killed as well, next to KK. We don't have the information as to why they were shot. Personally, I suspect Leanne's disappearance has something to do with this. It could have been 1001 different reasons.

Karen's got an angel working overtime for her. Had she gone with KK.... she'd be dead too.

KK was a very intelligent, compassionate person. He was also homeless. This film woke up not just Karen and the film crew to the plight of the homeless, but mine as well. Some are there due to drugs, some for mental health... others are just lost. But every single one of them is a person, with a family, with a life, with feelings.

They don't mention his name in the paper. His name was KK. And he was one of my best friend's friends.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... e-say.html

I just wanted someone to know. Thanks for letting me share.

Aw Kate, sorry to hear that. My thoughts and prayers go out to your friend.

Thanks Deb. It's so weird... cause Friday night, Karen and I were talking, and she was telling me, "Oh you HAVE to meet KK"...

it's just not ok. Karen said he died on a good day for him... he was happy. He had his name in a film. That will last forever.

I hope that Karen has called the police and told them everything that she knows about that night.

nolippin wrote:I hope that Karen has called the police and told them everything that she knows about that night.

Absolutely.