Comments on: Binsted vigil displays reverence for local anti-crime initiatives

By: Happy birthday, RVANews! | RVANews

Happy birthday, RVANews! | RVANews — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:02:10 +0000

[...] coverage of the vigil after the death of Tyler Binsted in April not only granted us insight from Tyler’s father, but also started a conversation [...]

By: Carver & Jackson Ward News » perhaps the VCU police now have better things to do than speed trap on Leigh Street - Richmond, Virginia

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:47:20 +0000

[...] VCU student in Carver last week. How nice of VCU students to wander into Richmond’s violence and get people to pay attention, as otherwise folks not right up on it tend not notice. Perhaps now the VCU police can find more [...]

By: mike

mike — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:09:27 +0000

Richmond commonwealth attorney Mike Herring must resign. Today news of the dropped charges against laprecious hit the news. It reminds me of mr.Herrings decision to allow Ray Dandrige one of the two Harvey murders to serve life in prison.

By: Progress made in Tyler Binsted case | RVANews

Progress made in Tyler Binsted case | RVANews — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:04:38 +0000

[...] Zsabriela Evelyn Williams for her role in the March 2008 robbery and murder of VCU student Tyler Binsted. Another female, LaPrecious Nicole Austin is also being charge with conspiracy to commit robbery [...]

By: Hank Picariello

Hank Picariello — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:10:53 +0000

After 38 years I reconnected with some former Marines I served with in Viet Nam. One of them was Tom “Travis” Binsted, Tyler’s father. Ironically, this connection was made the day that Tyler’s life was so tragically taken. Since learning of Tyler’s death, I have been following on the Internet the outpouring of love and support for Tyler’s memory by his family, friends, fellow students and just about anyone that has come to learn of the way Tyler lived his life.

It is no small wonder to me that Tyler died because of the selfless and brave actions he took to protect the young girl who was with him the night he was killed. It is no small wonder to me because his father, likewise, was a hero to me and the other Marines he served with in Viet Nam. We never got to say goodbye to Tom Binsted. He was seriously wounded and sent home to recover from his wounds before any of us that were close to him could say goodbye to him. It is obvious that Tom Binsted and his wife Paula raised their children to live their lives to the fullest. They obviously devoted a great deal of time and effort to instill in them a a sense of giving to the community and to their fellow man; human qualities that were so terribly lacking in the lives of the two cowards that took Tyler’s life.

Tyler Binsted, like his father, is a hero. I wish I could have known him.

By: exhibits a - o. « parasol party

exhibits a - o. « parasol party — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:34:48 +0000

[...] parasol party hiding from the sun since 1981 « links o’ the day. exhibits a - o. April 8, 2008 Wednesday night I covered the Binsted vigil for RVANews.com. It was an interesting experience; I’m very glad I did it and I’m excited to do more work for them. You can check out the article I wrote here. [...]

By: Charlotte Cerne

Charlotte Cerne — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:38:21 +0000

I have been more touched by Tyler Binsted’s murder than others. Perhaps because he was a boy who did everything right.He was beautiful. Those who die because they choose to do drugs, associate with dealers, associate with abusers, drop out of school and hang on the corners. Well, they are dead already aren’t they? This is a boy whose resume needed no padding when he left this earth. He was an asset to this world. I have no shame for mourning his death to such a degree and seeing that others have not cherished this life they were given.

By: Tess

Tess — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:06:32 +0000

Thanks for the feedback, all. I especially thank you, Mr. Binsted, for weighing in on the vigil. I’m glad I was reading the atmosphere right, and that it wasn’t just me that felt that the event had been a little steamrolled by agendas. At the same time, I’m also glad that you did feel honored by all the efforts of the people there. The way you’ve acted and the attitude you’ve assumed through this has inspired me more than you know. Thanks.

By: Jonah

Jonah — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:29:55 +0000

Mr. Binsted,
Thank you for reminding us all to try our best to be our brother’s keeper. It a large but necessary burden, and is easily overlooked in the day to day crush of raising a family, making a living, and trying to live life to its fullest.

You are inspiring that you have taken such heartache and turned it into making this world a better place.
You, Paula, and the rest of your family, and Tyler’s friends and girlfriend remain in our thoughts and prayers.

By: Valerie Catrow

Valerie Catrow — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:32:36 +0000

I think you said that really well, Justin.

By: Paul H

Paul H — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:24:23 +0000

To the Binsted family, I would like to express my sincerest condolences. Your son was a part of our family and we shall miss him, even those of us who never met him.

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:53:54 +0000

Something highly visible like the death of a VCU student, someone that lots of people knew or knew of, is just naturally going to attract the kind of PR stuff that Tess and Mr. Binsted didn’t like. But that’s all it is – PR.

As far as I know, the Richmond murder rate hasn’t just dropped for white people, or people in the fan, or rich people, or Yuppies like me. I’m pretty sure that the people in our police department, community organizations, and churches, the ones who actually do the work, care about each and every lost life. Even if the media and the politicians and the everyday people of the city don’t seem to.

I’m with Mr. Binsted – I have no idea what sorts of things you do to keep crimes like this from happening, or even the right way to respond to them. That vigil might not have been ideal. But I agree with John: lets challenge each other to respond to other violent, unfortunate crimes the same way and with the same urgency. I believe that there are those in the city who already do.

By: je ne sais pas

je ne sais pas — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:41:55 +0000

[...] >>> Posted at 9:41PM under Richmond [...]

By: john m

john m — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:33:59 +0000

Not to make light of the pain that anyone feels on the death of Mr.Binstead, but why the sudden reaction to this one killing? It is not as if Richmond hasn’t seen at least one every few weeks for as long as I’ve been watching.

Oh, right –he’s a white VCU kid. Is it still really that simple? Someone please give me a better reason than that

By: Valerie Catrow

Valerie Catrow — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:27:00 +0000

Thanks for sharing this with us, Mr. Binsted. It was great of you to give us your perspective on what undoubtedly is a painful time. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.

By: Thomas J. Binsted

Thomas J. Binsted — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:53:42 +0000

Ms. Dixon,
Your thoughts on last nights vigil reflect my own…more emphasis should have been placed on my sons accomplishments and all that he had yet to offer the community. Still, I feel the sentiments were genuine.
This was not the first or last tragic loss that the community will experience but I don”t know what is being done to curb the flow. Are parents raising their children better? How can they when they are children themselves? Where are the pastors and the congregation when they see a friend or neighbor making poor decisions? Or going down the wrong path? What of the mentors or students with time on their hands?
Paula and I have always felt that the best contribution that we could make to society would be to raise kids with a sense of responsibility towards mankind. In that I feel confident that we have succeeded…however, that in itself does not appear to be enough.I pledge myself to become my brothers keeper.