Parkview Tragedy

The community is still reeling from the tragic deaths of two adults and four children from a shooting that will remain in people's minds for a long time. It was last Thursday (June 11) around 7:45 at the Parkview Apartments. when alleged suspect Brittany Tucker armed with a handgun approached 20-year old Antiesha Logwood as she was talking to another individual. A question was asked and Tucker shot Logwood, killing her. Tucker then went to her apartment where she shot and killed her four children, and seconds later killed herself. Information from Monroe Police after an initial investigation revealed that Tucker may have been having "mental issues" that contributed to her behavior. Witnesses alleged of smelling strong scents of bleach earlier in the week from Brittany Tucker's Apartment that one of her children supposedly was dead earlier than Thursday Shooting which remains a mystery. As of press time, the community has not received any additional information from the Monroe Police Department regarding a motive for the shooting. The weapon used by Tucker was purchased at a gun store, but questions remain as to how was she able to obtain the gun. The ages of Tucker's children ranged from 12 years to 6 months. Monroe Police Chief Reggie Brown said that people who knew Tucker said that she had "mental issues", but did not elaborate further. Brown released a statement saying, "Our hearts go out to her, to her mental state. We oftentimes depend on the community, who recognize people that are in a mental health crisis to give us a call, so that we can respond and give them the help they need".

There may be more people among us who have mental health issues that are more under the radar than we realize. We have always had them, but getting the proper and adequate treatment has been a challenge. For so many without any kind of insurance or other financial resources, the mentally challenge have had to seek community-based treatment from social services. So much of those services are provided by the government (local and federal), but cutbacks in budgets on the local/state level have seen more people who are in the streets needing help. In a nation as rich as the U.S., no one should be without even "basic" health care. Several witnesses allege that Brittany Tucker sought help at LSU Monroe Medical Center Emergency Room but was turned away on Wednesday June 10. The Monroe Dispatch reached out to LSU Emergency Room Director Lisa Griffin who was contacted but never returned our call. We know that with the proper care and with monitoring, perhaps deaths like the ones in Parkview will become less. Yes, the community must do its part, but our dollars can be well spent when we make more of an effort to see that no one who has a mental issue, is left behind. One never knows whose family will be next. We have a ways to go. Please pray for the families of Antiesha Logwood and Brittany Tucker, as those prayers will be needed in the days ahead. There are three sides to every story. This was one side of this story. The Monroe Dispatch welcomes the other or another side of this story.