Taj Gibson’s Loses His Cousin In Senseless Killing!

Apr 25, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) dunks the ball against the Washington Wizards in the second quarter in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

This is a part of the job that I  actually hate to do. Instead of talking about draft prospects, free agent possibilities or being the Executive Advocate for the Legion of Booz, I have to report some awful news concerning Taj Gibson. This week it has reported that Taj Gibson’s six-year-old cousin, Prince Joshua Avitto was stabbed along with another seven-year old girl in an elevator by a person who I am trying to describe without getting fired.

According to the New York Post, the children was “hacked and stabbed” multiple times while going to get ice cream. Prince Joshua Avitto did not survive but the seven-year old with him, Mikayla Capers did but she suffered serious injuries in the attack. Hopefully she will be able to pull through and improve.

As a father of three boys, two that are younger, I would like to say on the behalf of the staff of Pippen Ain’t Easy to Taj Gibson that words can’t even express the extreme sorrow for the loss of your family member. We will keep you and your family in our prayers. What we will also do is pray that the authorities catch this yahoo and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.

Pippen Peoples this is totally frustrating and sad. According to the report, authorities can’t find any intent behind the attacks saying the attack was just random. Bottom line some coward that has no business on this earth just killed two innocent children that were going out to get ice cream, something we as adults used to do without a care in the world.

As of this writing, the perpetrator has not been caught. However, the murder weapon was recovered so there is a chance that it can be used to track this person down and bring him to justice. Maybe little Mikayla will be able to provide a description that will help in the investigation. There is a police sketch out in the meantime.

Look, this is not about basketball here. This is about human nature and common decency here. If anyone knows anything about this horrible crime PLEASE speak up. The New York Post also states that the stabbing took place a couple of days after an 18-year-old female was stabbed 32 times in the chest in East New York. Authorities do not know if  these two crimes are connected. Really at this point, who cares? Find this jackass and get him off the streets NOW! If someone can randomly walk up and do this to innocent children for no rhyme or reason, we all have to be on alert that this could happen again.

Pippen Ain’t Easy will make the plea one more time. If anyone saw anything out of the ordinary please speak up. Let’s get away from this “No Snitching” rule here. We all have a responsibility here to help two families get some closure in this senseless tragedy.

I will make one more point and then get off the soap box and get back to basketball. Parents who are reading this I have one request, let’s be more diligent in watching our children. It’s a crying shame that we even have to do it in this day and age. When I was a kid growing up I could go off without a care in the world. Those days are gone now. Appreciate and cherish your children, this tragedy shows us that we are not promised tomorrow.

Hey Taj, hope to be covering you back on the court soon. Go get that starting power forward spot. Keep the faith. We here at Pippen Ain’t Easy and the Pippen Peoples are all pulling for you and your wonderful family.

Pippen Peoples, back to bringing your opinions on how this team will be built.