Yikes! I’ve played games online with this guy…

Perhaps it is true that violence and video games go hand in hand. After hearing about one guy I play online games with I’m not too sure any more. Damon Weston Bates, who goes by the nickname Evil Scrub gaming, and another man are being held without bail in Auburn CA on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and kidnapping in the beating death of a man near downtown Auburn. Apparently the whole incident occured over a purse allegedly being stolen by the victim.

Here’s the original story and the follow-up.

Frankly, I’m rather unsettled by the whole thing. To think that someone I’ve chatted with online a number of times may be a murderer is really freaky. Another online friend who actually knows the guy ‘face to face’ was surprised that this happened, saying ‘I’ve know him for just under 2 years or so… you would think long enough to really know someone… but I guess not.’

Like my buddy said none of us really knows anyone else or what they’re capable of, no matter how long you’ve known them.

A long time ‘friend’ of mine attempted to kill me 13 years ago. It was a real mess. All over a female (of course). Not the girl’s fault but when it comes to women I’ve been known to do some stupid things.

The guy used my head like a handball off a brickwall. I’m only 5′-7″ and at the time weighed in at a whopping 145lbs. He’s 6′-4″ and runs about 260lbs. So, in other words I didn’t have much of a chance as he attacked me completely unexpectedly. I knew the guy was slightly upset with me. I just didn’t realize what his plan was. After the initial attack I ran, stunned, and was tackled from behind and had my face bounced off a concrete sidewalk a number of times. The only reason I got away is because a car drove up to the building and distracted him. And I ran the 50 yards to my parents house where I locked the door and went to the bathroom where I bled all over the place. My folks saw the mess I was in, called the cops and gave me first aid.

Anyway, there were police, doctors and lawyers involved. I spent over a year in complete terror as this guy skipped town and stalked me and constantly threatened my family from payphones.

When he was finally caught I had a really fun (NOT) few months waiting for the trial. When the day finally did come to testify it was as awful as I had imagined. His lawyer was as weaselly as they come. He was convicted, but sadly, as it was his first violent offence (he had a long record of theft and drug charges) he only received 2 years probation. Argh! I had to see him on the street every other day until I moved from Nova Scotia to BC (across the country) where I have some peace now.

I read in the ‘Court Report’ online version of my hometown paper just a few months ago that this fine gentleman had beaten someone else to a pulp. What did he get? That’s right… more probation.

So when people say, ‘you can never really know someone’. It’s true. You don’t. I don’t know why I’m sharing this. I just thought it appropriate for this topic.