When the hero is white
America loves guns and whiteness, and both depend on each other for survival. This country also loves a story of heroism, particularly when the hero is a white man.
On August 2, 2025, Adam Turck was shot and killed in Richmond, VA, while intervening in a domestic incident involving 19-year-old Destin Grady, who shot Turck and then turned the gun on himself, according to several news sources. As someone who called Richmond home for 14 years, works in community violence intervention, and experienced the loss of life due to gun violence, I am honestly pissed off by the media coverage of Adam’s shooting.
To date, I have found 34 published stories that call Adam a hero, share memories of his life from the perspective of his loved ones, and honor his legacy. When I see the news stories of Adam, I can not help but think of Sherrod “Rondoe” Bosher, the 18-year-old John Marshall High School senior who was shot on May 11, 2025, and died on Mother’s Day. I also can not help but think about the 33 other lives lost to gun violence in Richmond so far this year, with over 90% being Black, and 11 of those under 26 years old. These deaths did not receive nearly half the media coverage that Adam did. Hell, these lives didn't get anywhere near the same attention as Tommie the pitbull, who was murdered in Richmond back in 2019.
Many people and AI bots on social media believe Adam should have stayed out of the incident between Destin and the unidentified woman. In contrast, the press has positioned him as a hero, going so far as to call him Superman. Now, imagine if I told you that many Black and Brown people in Richmond and across cities nationwide face the constant threat of death every day for intervening to disrupt the cycle of violence, with some even losing their lives. We don't hear their stories, see their faces, or know their names. They were and still are heroes to someone, too.
Every death caused by gun violence is tragic, and Adam’s is no exception. However, we cannot continue to prioritize the value of white lives over others by giving them more attention, coverage, and public-facing outrage. Especially in a city like Richmond, where gun violence disproportionately affects Black people who come from isolated communities overwhelmed by economic neglect, forced migration, vast health disparities, and failing infrastructure.
As a social worker and licensed mental health professional who has spent my entire career working alongside communities, families, youth, and young adults impacted by violence, my mind wanders and wonders about Destin, 19 years young, gone, dead by suicide. I do not know him or his story; however, I know that the gun he used to kill himself and Adam was a policy choice. Gun violence is a policy choice.
Some people who knew Adam might read this and find it tasteless, or even be disgusted by my perspective; their feelings would be valid. Adam was and continues to be an essential part of their lives and a hero in their stories.
Since Adam's death, Richmond has continued to experience nonfatal gun shootings, including a notable 12-year-old victim, and the death of 37-year-old Mario Swann on August 8, 2025. This year is not quite over, which means more deaths are ahead, and more heroes will be lost. I suppose we will all have to wait and see how the media tells those stories, and I hope that they do better, even when the victim is not a white man or a dog.
Icon Photo Credit: Katrina Taggart-Hecksher and Brenda Soque 'It's Time For Change' Mending Walls Project
