Little shakening
Just heard some startling news…
My old roommate and the best man in my wedding used to work at this small engineering firm in Sacramento. It was near the DMV Headquarters, so when I used to work there, I’d regularly go out to lunch with him and knew the owners of the company and all of the employees. We used to hang out with one of his coworkers, Peyton, fairly regularly. He’d come over to our house, gone out drinking with him, he’d crashed on our couch, etc. He was a nice guy, though was habitually late and unreliable (hence why he was eventually fired). He was also a little paranoid. One of those “got to pack and head to the hills” kind of guys. He used to ask me if I could hack the DMV and get him a new identity. He was a little out there, but seemed harmless for the most part.
Front page of the Sacramento Bee’s Metro section today: Man fatally shot at workplace. “Juan Menendez [think Peyton was his middle name] allegedly killed killed Ryszard Topor, 46, of Folsom in the lobby below the engineering firm where the men had worked, and walked away with a semiautomatic pistol in hand”. Apparently later that day, SWAT raided his apartment and arrested him.
A little shakening. He didn’t shoot anyone at my friend’s old work, it was another place where he’d work for only a few months. But still… he was fired from my friend’s old work… he could have done that then… and it could have been my friend. Even then, this was a guy I knew personally, I’d spent time with, and he’d crashed out on our couch numberous times.
You hear stories of people walking into their work and killing someone, and always think it they are just crazy, wacked out people. Kind of hits home when it is someone you know. Someone you though was pretty much harmless.
I didn’t know anyone at his last job, though my prayers go out to the family.
Yes, that is just horrible.
ken
5 Oct 05 at 10:36am
I just wanted to add that Peyton has crashed on my couch also. He actually has a lot of friends because he is such a likable guy. He is so much more than the media has painted him. He’s been nothing but respectable, honest, giving and kind to me, my husband and my children.
I am personally deeply saddened by this event, not only because a man was shot, but because I feel as though I’ve lost a true friend.
Peyton, his family and friends need your prayers, also.
Thanks.
ken
5 Oct 05 at 11:01pm
It may be that you all knew this "friend," yet he goes and kills someone because he got fired not from Rick, but someone different.
Yes to pray for Juan, but know that this family and co-workers are suffering tremendously!! How horrific this senseless crime is. My husband worked at this office for 6 years and was quite close with Rick so it hits very close to home. To all out there…every one has a family, whether it be immediate or not, and to think twice before making such a rash decision. Life is too short already so enjoy what you have and help to bring peace to all.
My prayers go out to C-B employees and the Topor family. Rick was taken way too soon, but is truelly in a better and safer place.
ken
6 Oct 05 at 4:09pm
Rick was the type of person that would do anything to help someone out. He did not deserve this, and although he is in a better place, he will be deerly missed. How one man (Peyton) can go and do something like this makes a person thankful that some states still have the death penalty. I hope that Peytons’ family thinks about that, and that he will get what he deserves.
ken
6 Oct 05 at 8:51pm
I am a relative of Rick, living in Michigan. Just yesterday we laid him to rest in a cemetary plot that should have remained empty for another 40 years. Though most of what I know about the incident is only what was reported by the media, I have so much more insight about Rick and what kind of a person he was. Little of this was reported by the papers. I think that this, more than anything else, angers me. I am not angry at Menendez, nor do I hate him, though I question why he thought that such an act could benefit him or give him revenge for his firing, in which Rick had no part. You all say that Menendez was just a normal guy…so was Rick. But while I know about Rick and his life and motivations, I know so little about Menendez. Please tell me what you know about him, so that I can perhaps begin to understand, or at least accept, what has happened. And please pray for Rick, and for strength for his family both in California and Michigan to make it through yet another day without him.
ken
13 Oct 05 at 8:28am
I am Peyton’s sister. My Prayers go out to the Topor Family. There is not a day that has gone by since this incident, that I am not broken by this tradgedy. I am a wife and mother of 4, and I ache for the Topor family. The Lord has brought me to my knees to give comfort to Mr. Topor’s wife and children. I thought Peyton was suicidal. My mother and I never could have predicted this. He is very sick, and has been for a long time. We have done everything in our power to try and get help for Peyton prior to this tragedy. I do not believe this had anything to do with Mr. Topor, or Peyton being fired. If the family has any questions about my family I am more than willing to help in any way I can. My email address is cnwilson@surewest.net
Again, I am so sorry and so embarrassed and ashamed. Anything I can do please let me know
ken
19 Oct 05 at 10:53pm
I have just read Nicole’s blog and as I sit here crying I feel compelled to write. I know Peyton and his family very well and Nicole’s feelings go for them all. Since this tragedy happened we have been in prayer for both families, as neither will ever be the same again. Before we start casting stones I believe we should have the whole story. Our Lord says in His Word about the woman that had sinned, let those without any sin throw the first stone and no one threw a stone. Until you have walked in the shoes of these poor families you will never know the hurt that they both are going through. For someone to mention that they hope Peyton’s family thinks about the death penalty that is so awful. His poor family knew he was sick and couldn’t get the help he needed and they certainly didn’t need to read that. As for me I will continue to pray for the Topor family, Peyton, his family and friends. Join me in prayer, and eventually the whole truth will come out. L
ken
21 Oct 05 at 7:55pm
Everyone is so quick to deal out death and judgement. Why? Who are we to decide? We do not have that right. I have the utmost compassion for the Topor family and Peyton’s family. They have suffered terrible losses. Yes, they both suffer tremendously. May God give them the strength to learn and understand the reason this event has taken place. I think the real lesson here is sadly missed. Anger, hatred, and fear can only breed more violence. How long before we understand that love and forgiveness are the only hopes for humanity? It is not easy to find these through all of the suffering, but it exists inside every single one of us. Who will step up to the challenge of forgiveness? It is the true self that will find it.
I wish that you all could have known the real Peyton. I never, ever in a zillion years thought he could be capable of this. He is a beautiful soul who has obviously gotten lost along the way. Our job now is to help him find his way again so he may someday make peace with himself and the people he has afflicted. Do not be so quick to condemn this man before you take the time to know the whole story, not just what they showed you in the media. Prayers are needed for all people in this world, including those that make grave mistakes. Both men will be sadly missed!!! My prayers are with these families in their time of need. WWJD
ken
22 Nov 05 at 11:15pm
He was a friend of mine. I hadn’t seen him for about a year when I saw local television news and saw that he was arrested for murder. He never struck me as paranoid; however, one time my ex-boyfriend allegedly walked in on him looking through my purse (which I had left in the bathroom). Since that time, we have only hung out once. Though the incident wass strange and put me off our friendship, I never thought he was a person capable of committing a crime, and certainly not capable of murder.
BTW- he loved that little job he had at the last firm where he worked. He stayed there working sometimes all night. He was a reliable friend.
He has crashed on my couch several times and was introduced to other friends of mine who became friends with him independently. They never had a weird or bad experience with him and are all terribly shocked.
ken
26 Nov 05 at 5:46pm
A friend called and told me the news concerning Peyton’s arrest, the same friend, ironically, who introduced us. I was both surprised and shocked for a number of days following the revelation, wondering why, how could he have done this, what would cause my old friend to commit this act? For in that act not just one, but two lives were irrevocably destroyed. I can only wonder and hope that both families are finding their way toward healing.
I could never have guessed that Peyton would do something like this. What I was most impressed with by Peyton was his intelligence, acceptance, and the conversations we had, were stimulating, and definitly thought provoking.
I never met Rick and can’t relate my experiences with him, though from what I’ve read he was a good man who loved his family and will certainly be missed by those he called friend and co-workder.
My thoughts and well wishes go out to both parties at this time, hoping that healing can occur.
ken
25 Dec 05 at 10:06am