Jajuan Holmes: The Other Side

Font Size By Jessica Taloney Reporter
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One man who knew Jajuan Holmes says he saw a different side of the troubled teen.
Published: Fri, March 07, 2008 - 5:31 pm
Last Updated: Sat, March 08, 2008 - 1:00 pm
Jessica Taloney
Jessica Taloney
William Dotch is the kind of man who has never met a stranger.
"In this kind of business, when people come in here you build a relationship," said Dotch, who owns a barber shop on Dauphin Island Parkway.
Among his clients was Jajuan Holmes, an 18-year-old student at Davidson High School.
"He was always smiling when he came in. He would sit down and he'd joke with other barbers."
But, the way Dotch remembers Holmes is a stark contrast to the troubled teen who ended his own life Thursday morning.
Holmes, who was accused in three robberies and suspended from school for an unrelated offense, shot and killed himself in front of 150 classmates in the school gym.
"Apparently there was something on his mind that no one else knew," said Dotch, who never thought Holmes problems would end with suicide.
"I told my kids yesterday, if they've got something on their mind they need to talk to me about, then talk to me or talk to their mother," said Dotch.


I am a little set aback how everyone can rave about what a good kid this guy is and how at fault the school system is for not having metal detectors.  Firstly, good kids don’t rob for a living.  Why is it that once someone is dead they are fealt sorry for.  He should have never gotten out of jail in the first place, after his third offense.  Shame on the system for letting him out........

Posted by sweetnsour on 03/11/08 - 1:19 am • Report Abuse.   

Agreed, however, the cell phones can also help in certain situations.  Maybe the students need to understand how it affected this situation and caused major confusion.  If it had not been for a cell phone in Columbine, it could have been worse.  So with that said, it can help and it can hurt.  But the main point should not be the cell phone issue at the schools.  We need to address how can we prevent this from happening to other students and how can we save our students!!!  I am truly concerned about the cuts and how that is going to affect our programs and the children, placing some of them back on the streets.  We have so many kids that need the different programs and we are cutting it from them.  For the record, I think the faculty at DHS did an outstanding job, with the situation.

Posted by Teacher4ALL on 03/09/08 - 4:15 pm • Report Abuse.   

In all honesty, I was too busy to use my cell phone. However, I received many calls and text mesages from my co-workers that had been given incorrect information. I was not aware of their messages until the much later in the day.

Believe me I realize that the students as well as their parents were scared, but it doesn’t negate the fact that the students use of the cell phones created problems.

Posted by monkey1966 on 03/09/08 - 5:05 am • Report Abuse.   

Once again, we are on the cell phone issue.  The school does have a policy in place for children with cell phones.  They are not suppose to have them.  I am also a system employee, I also send my children to school with cell phones.  However, can you honestly say that you did not use your cell during the crisis.  They are scared children.  No one said the “System” did not do “their” job.  The system is failing these children, not with the plans that they have in place, but with the overspending of the budgets and the cutting of programs.  Seeing as some of you posting were there and some of you have been watching the news… have any of you seen our wonderful Superintendent?????  Was he there at the site, while one of our students had taken his own life?  I saw several other representatives there, but not him!!!  Can someone correct me???  This is not a bashing comment, but seems people need to know the whole truth.  Why not get involved Mobile and start asking more questions???

Posted by Teacher4ALL on 03/08/08 - 8:19 pm • Report Abuse.   

Just proves that behind a smile you never really know what’s going on in a persons mind.

Posted by MeAmerican on 03/08/08 - 1:11 pm • Report Abuse.   

As a person that was robbed by Mr. Holmes, I am very sad for the loss of his life and I wish that I could have helped him!  Nothing is worth taking your life over!!!!!!!!!!!!  NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!  everything can be fixed, everything can be forgiven, it may take time but it can be done. 
To the friends and family of Mr. Holmes I am truly saddened and sorry for your loss!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by dq0930 on 03/08/08 - 9:10 am • Report Abuse.   

As a parent, I understand parents wanting their children to carry cell phones. As a school system employee, who was at DHS Thursday, I will tell you that students having cell phones caused more harm than good. Text messages were immediately being sent to students at other schools and parents. Misinformation was given, and we found ourselves dealing with about 200 frantic parents.

The public needs to understand, each school has a safety plan in place. The administration, teachers, and others (the Crisis Response Team) is going to do everything in their power to keep every child safe. In addition, we cannot allow students to just leave school. We have to collect the name of each student and the name of the adult who is taking the student from campus. Our mission is to ensure that we are keeping your child and every other child safe. We are not able to accomplish this mission if we don’t have the cooperation of the parents and the students.

Posted by monkey1966 on 03/08/08 - 6:23 am • Report Abuse.   

Make certain that the schools are offering counseling programs for your child.  Make certain that the Board is doing what they say they are doing.  You are sitting back letting them cut these positions, these are teaching positions that effect YOUR children.  Children like Jajuan.  These are not just central office positions.  Ask questions.  Go to your child’s PTO and ask if they are the school that is losing teaching units, due to the “overspending” of the budget.  See your children are slipping through the cracks and no one is aware and you are not being told the truth.  It takes a tragedy for people to open their eyes that these kids need help.  This young man came from a middle school that was very limited in funding and programs other than the “core” subjects.  People are asking about his family, the ones that I know personally are wonderful, respectful, and I have been truly blessed knowing them.  Mr. Dotch, bless you for telling a different for public to hear!

Posted by Teacher4ALL on 03/07/08 - 9:22 pm • Report Abuse.   

I have debated with myself whether to post a comment or not, seeing as I have taught this young man, that many people have made out to be a “bad” child.  He was not the person that many of you have made him out to be.  Many people actually say that you know the story line of a book without even opening the book and reading it.  You see the cover, or you might even take the time to read a few sentences, but when you really get deep into the plot, you will find that the cover is not doing the book justice.  This young man was a bright student, he was loved by several people.  Yes, he did have personal problems, who doesn’t.  If there is someone sitting at the tv watching the news or reading this tonight saying they do not have issues, they are in denial.  The community is asking what they can do to help these children.  Be wiser about who you are electing to run your schools.  Get more actively involved in the schools.

Posted by Teacher4ALL on 03/07/08 - 9:13 pm • Report Abuse.   


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