As I am sitting here reading the many awesome blogs of AR, I just got an email that an agent has been shot in the head by a client just 20 minutes away from my own home!
I can not even begin to understand the pain his family and children are going through. It has not been confirmed that he has died but all indications are such.
Having been a Realtor for several years now, it amazes me that everything is the fault of the agent. It is our fault they have not paid their mortgage. It's our fault the market is what it is is. It is our fault a highway is slated to go next to their property. It's our fault a landfill went in next door. It is our fault that the neighbors house is in deplorable condition.
Depression or not, the man took someones Daddy and someones husband this morning. May God comfort their family in such a horrible time. I am numb that this has happened in West Michigan.
For more on the story you may visit WZZM 13.
Editing as I get more information:
Troy was 33 years old according to the news. He has two small children and volunteered with his church youth group. The shooter was 73 years old and was upset over a real estate deal. They are going to open donations for his children in the upcoming days. Will pass along more info as I get it. Be safe out there!
NEW INFORMATION as of 7/2/08 3:44 pm
ATTENTION WMLAR MEMBERS With the recent tragic loss of REALTOR Troy VanderStelt, Nexes Realty, the family has requested in lieu of flowers, a contribution be made to the following Fund: Make checks payable to: Children of Troy VanderStelt
Mail to: Community Shores Bank
1030 W. Norton Ave.
Muskegon, MI 49441
This is a tragedy. I cannot express my condolences to the victim's family. I can only pray that God is His great mercy surrounds these people with his love and compassion. May God have mercy upon this man who cut this man's life short by this wicked act of violence.
Tami ~
This post is featured in Walking By Faith In The Rain! of Active Rain. Please pray for the family of this slain realtor. God have mercy on his soul.
Tami - so sorry to hear this. I am sure the close distance of this act has shaken you as well. I will pray for this family. Be safe.
May the Lords peace and comfort settle over his family in this there time of need.
What a tragedy, Tami I know you and your colleagues are reeling I hope knowing others care and are praying for all of you will bring you some comfort, please keep us updated.
UNBELIEVABLE! I am sooooooo sorry. It is a reminder to us that you never know when you will die. His poor wife and kids.
Tami,
Our hearts are so very heavy for your community's loss. This young man had so very much to live for and I am sure you will receive the needed contributions for his family. Please keep us posted. We all should take more care. I know I slip into a far too trusting mode at times.
That's a terrible story - my thoughts are with his family.
Tami,
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Guess we never know when our time will come but hopefully I will not go out like that!
Tami, I had just read Roberts post, hadn't heard about this. I did swing by Nexes Realty and sent a sympathy to the "Contact Us" for his family and co-workers.
Yes, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to the shooter for not understanding. I just dont get it..............I am sorry...
Thank You for caring,I have not seen the new as I am out of town. I will be praying for his family. This is something you never expect to hear and there are no words for it.
My Lord, when will people take responsibility for their own actions or doings.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Troy's family as I am just stunned and now more cautious. If there is anything that I can do please let me know!
I would be happy to provide our office with a list of things that the family may be in need of or things that we can do..our office is a group of wonderful people who when they hear about this will want to help.
It's scary. You sell a home for somebody and the it goes for less than they want (that is just about every case right now) Then you sell them a new home and now 2 years later it is worth substantially less and as the Realtor you are blamed. I don't know the case here but you can see the scenario quite easily. Then they blame it on depression it's always somebody or something else's fault. It makes you sick. We all need to help his family
TO ALL: I am so proud of us as a real estate family. I think we all feel this in our hearts--it could have been any of us. I am hoping to get the information on who donations should be sent to by tomorrow. I think this family is reeling and they are probably just living minute-by-minute. It would be so cool for them to receive support from across America and show the world we are a family!
It is a sad story and even sadder commentary on the society we live in. Each and everyone of us must be careful on what and how we respond to our clients. There is much frustration & anxiety in this marketplace we're dealing with now. Be sensitive & alert to what your clients are going through...
How sad! My thoughts are with his family and friends. I can not believe the world is becoming so violent! I am just shocked that someones life had to be taken over Real Estate! Pretty scary if you ask me.
This kind of news is so sad and unbelieveable. I am sure it will rock the community and my prayers go out to the family. This is not the type of profession you would ever expect to lose a life to a gunshot wound. How horrible for everyone involved.
That is a crazy cautionary tale. We as Realtors are constantly in the Public eye and as is the case everywhere in the world, being in the public eye can be dangerous. Though we can't live our lives scared, if we merely do our job to the best of our abilities we can hopefully avoid this kind of situation. I'm not saying this agent did anything wrong, but he was taken and we have to learn something from this tragedy. Hopefully it will be that our job is important and can be dangerous. Be safe out there in the real world, cause you never know what's gonna happen
More Info also posted above:
ATTENTION WMLAR MEMBERS With the recent tragic loss of REALTOR Troy VanderStelt, Nexes Realty, the family has requested in lieu of flowers, a contribution be made to the following Fund: Make checks payable to: Children of Troy VanderStelt Mail to: Community Shores Bank 1030 W. Norton Ave. Muskegon, MI 49441
What a tragic story. My heart goes out to the family he has left behind. I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers.
What a waste of life! I told my wife about this yesterday and she could not believe it. God bless his family in this time of sorrow.
This is such a sad story. The family deserves all our prayers. For really powerful prayers they can get someone to <a href="http://www.westernwallprayers.org/?a_aid=13756901.">pray for me at the Western Wall for 40 days</a>. I think the prayers are very powerful and will help the family in this difficult time.
This is such a sad story. The family deserves all our prayers. For really powerful prayers they can get someone to pray for me at the Western Wall for 40 days. I think the prayers are very powerful and will help the family in this difficult time.