A Tough Ending

It is unfortunate that John Elliot and his wife had to bury her son, Charles Barker, shot by a man he was attempting to rob (“Slain Teen Had 2 Sides to His Life, Friends Say,” June 25.)

Elliot hangs his hat on the fact that his stepson was killed for only “attempting” to commit a robbery. When you don a mask, go into the night to accost someone while saying, “Freeze, give me your wallet,” you accept the cards that are dealt you.

In this case, the hand was a pair of fours--as in .44-caliber Magnum. It’s a tough hand, but Charles Barker is the one who decided he wanted to play with the big boys that night.

TOM BASINSKI

San Diego