Tragedy

This is a picture of my ex-step-nephew (did that make sense?). He was tragically killed last weekend while playing with a handgun. I only met him a few times over the years at different family functions and so didn't really know him, but tragedy is tragedy, and I know his family is grieving for him. If ever someone needed prayer it's them, so if you could please as you're reading this just send up some silent prayers of comfort, grace and provision for this family it would be appreciated. Thank you!

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LORAIN -- A game of Russian roulette went terribly wrong and tragically ended the life of a 17-year-old Lorain Admiral King High School student.
Corey Torres was with a friend at a Leavitt Homes residence, when he began playing with a .38-caliber revolver around 1 p.m. Saturday. Torres emptied the chamber, pulled the trigger and the gun clicked. After the first shot failed, he put the revolver up to his right temple and pulled the trigger again.
It fired, killing him instantly, according to Lorain County Coroner Dr. Paul Matus.
A 14-year-old girl was present and there was nothing to indicate the act was suicide, Matus said. When police arrived at 2222 Lorain Drive, Torres was on the couch with the revolver still in hand and bullets on his lap, according to a police report. It is unclear if drugs or alcohol played a part of the accident until toxicology tests come back, Matus said.
''This is the old story of kids playing with guns and goofing around,'' Matus said. ''We don't know that it was a formalized game of Russian roulette, but the result was the same.''
Police have no reason to believe the other teen was involved beyond being a witness. Police are trying to determine where the gun came from, but said no charges will be filed, according to Sgt. Mark Carpentiere.
''There was no fight or anything of malicious intent,'' he said. ''The other kid was very traumatized.''
Torres' mother, Angie Morris, said her son was a daring kid who always wanted to be liked.
''He was loved so much,'' Morris said. ''It is so tragic because he wanted to show off. No one wants to hear their son has taken their own life to show off.''
Morris said her son's friends had recently heard him talking about the game Russian roulette -- a potentially lethal game where participants place one cartridge in a chamber of a revolver's cylinder and point the gun at their head pulling the trigger.
''His friends said he poured some of the bullets out, but he was still trying to be daring,'' Morris said. ''The first shot nothing happened. The second time it actually went off. I just know it was a freak accident.''
Torres got the gun ''from around the neighborhood,'' she said. ''It's easy to get hold of guns.''
Torres has three older sisters. He enjoyed playing baseball and basketball and wanted to go into the service.
''He wanted to make some changes in his life,'' Morris said. ''He started to fall into the crowds that weren't doing so well. He had leadership qualities, but it was easy for him to fall in with the kids who weren't doing well.''
Morris wants other kids to realize the serious consequences that come with guns.
''Life is too short,'' she said. ''When you are playing around and impressing your friends ... What kind of impression do you give when you are sitting among your friends and you take your life in front of them.''
Morris has talked to the teen who witnessed her son's death and explained there was nothing she could have done because her son had his mind set on playing the game.
''I was mad at first, thinking Ôwhy didn't you try to get the gun from him' but I realized when someone has something in their head there's nothing they could've done,'' Morris said. ''(His friend) is not good at this point, it's a lot to handle when you are sitting there with him when it happens. Everyone tried to talk him out of it.''
Torres lived by a couple of mottos, ''Be true to the game,'' ''loyalty and love'' and ''hustle hard,'' his mother said.
''He wanted to make a change in everyone's life, but he didn't know how,'' she said. ''He had a zest for life and had so many friends. He's just so missed.''
Grief counseling was offered to students at the high school yesterday, according to Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson. Whether it will be available today depends on whether administrators gauged there is a continuing need, she said.
Carter Funeral Home is handling Torres' funeral arrangements.
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Corey L. 'C.T.' Torres

LORAIN -- Corey L. 'C.T.' Torres, 17, of Lorain, went home to be with the Lord unexpectedly Saturday, April 12, 2008.
He was born in Lorain on Jan. 24, 1991, and attended Admiral King High School, where he was a sophomore. Corey enjoyed playing basketball for St. Anthony Church of Lorain. He was also well-known for his fashion and his sayings, "True to the Game" and "Loyalty and Love."

He had worked for Marcos pizza in Amherst, and enjoyed playing video and card games, and spending time with his family who cared and loved him.

His memory will be cherished by his mother, Angie Morris and stepfather, Rocky "Pops" Morris, both of Lorain; father, Corey L. Jones of Vancouver, Wash.; sisters Amanda Gunter, Mary and Amber Torres, all of Lorain, and Kiara Jones of Vancouver; brothers Kaleb and Nicholas Jones of Vancouver, Wash.; maternal grandparents, Naaman Torres of Elyria and Mary Wooten of Lorain; and three nieces, three nephews, aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Laveil and Romona Jones.

Friends may call Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Carter Funeral Home Chapel, 3001 Elyria Ave., Lorain. The Rev. Pastor Arlon Lowe of Victory Baptist Temple Church, Elyria, will give words of comfort at 7:30 p.m.

Memorials can be made to any Lorain National Bank branch under the name of Corey L. Torres Fund.
Arrangements entrusted to Carter Funeral Homes Inc., 3001 Elyria Ave., Lorain. (440) 244-5200
Online condolences can be sent to carterfuneralhome@yahoo.com