Reader: Don't blame the victim in hit-and-run tragedy

Our update about the hit-and-run death of young Mikey Espinoza focused on reports that the alleged driver was street-racing at the time of impact. But a number of our readers noted that eleven-year-old Mikey was out at 8 p.m. This implicit criticism earned a sharp rebuke from one person...

By Michael Roberts

February 19, 2014

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Our update about the hit-and-run death of young Mikey Espinoza focused on reports that the alleged driver was street-racing at the time of impact. But a number of our readers noted that eleven-year-old Mikey was out at 8 p.m. This implicit criticism earned a sharp rebuke from one person.

Keith A. Badje writes:

8PM! The day before a holiday! How dare an 11 and 14 year old be out in public at that time! For a serious answer: given demographics of the area, there's a good chance the parents have no car. Also, up until maybe 10-15 years ago, it was normal for kids to go out and play without parents around until 9 or 10 at night. Don't blame the victim.

Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

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