Jose Neto: Victim impact statement in his own words

Suddenly what was light became black. At the young age of 24 years old. What was reachable is now far away, out of my reach. This destiny that I did not choose was forced upon me without the choice to choose.

The plans that I was building has been drastically changed by coward hands. Which I never imagined would cross my way.

Today I feel the weight of those hands now, and for the rest of my life, for which I did not deserve this fate. Having to be responsible to face a blind lifestyle that I did not plan.

I was always an active young guy both physically and mentally; energy and love of life were always there.

As a good Brazilian I always enjoyed nature, I grew up close to it. I learned to adore the ocean from when I was 14 and started to surf. The ocean became my second home.

I am very close to my family, my mom my dad and my two brothers always teaching me to give the right value and respect others for what they are and not what they have.

I am thankful for my family giving me the opportunity to go to school and have a good education. I was attending university in Brazil to study International Business. As English is the main language for international business, I decided to come to Canada to learn the language. This has been a dream since I was a child. I choose Canada because it is well known in Brazil for its natural beauty, stable economy, friendly people and a safe place to study.

Being here in Canada was one of the greatest experiences in my life; I never regretted coming to Calgary. I met wonderful people, studied a great language and with no doubt the beauty that I saw here

are in my mind forever, now that I am blind for life.

If not for the shooting of September 16, 2008 I would have spent Christmas time with my family and friends in Brazil, not in a hospital having surgery to remove both my eyes.

It is too hard for me to think that my life plans have been stolen from me from a simple action of pulling a trigger. The beauty that I used to see is now all black and dark. Before I had no limitations, now I must

plan within my limitations of this disability.

Now after one year of darkness, I keep going forward but in baby steps, relearning like a child, to walk, to eat, to dress, to read, to write, using the phone, the internet, the computer; I will never be able to drive again, play soccer, surf.

But I am learning to play guitar and the drums all over again. Back in Brazil l had my own band, that is something that I miss. Music was and still is my passion. But I must be patient, remember baby steps.

Today I place way more value on life, family, friendship; I place this value due to the proximity to death, the memories of the terror I have been through, with a bullet in my head, blind and desperate and not

understanding what was happening.

I still can remember Roberta screaming in Portuguese for help as blood was in my face, all the sirens, police, ambulance and in my mind was only the fear of death.

I also do not want to live the pain, the nightmares and hallucinations staying awake for days, and the shocking words from the doctor after the surgery, that they had to remove my eyes. I am now blinded for life. It was SO hard for me to accept the idea that I was not going to see the face of the women I love or my family, friends, the ocean and the plants and flowers around us.

Nor will I ever see the faces of my future kids or grand kids; this is a horrible pain that will never go away, today or forever.

With faith in God and everyone’s help I can keep going in this painful way.

In certain times this sadness hurts. When this happens I try to keep in my mind the things that I really believe in, which is that our life is a brief passage and I must be the best that I can be. Because in the end this sadness will pass.

I am sure of the Divine Justice, but I also trust in the Justice of the Human Kind, and that what has to be done, will be done.