Featured reader comments

Last week's report on a $50,000 reward being offered in a 2012 shooting in Vermont Vista sparked an interesting conversation in the comments.

One commenter suggests that the family honor the life of their slain loved one and try to forget about finding his killer. The writer, Anything is possible, contends that continuing the search only empowers the killer.

But two other commenters, Ghost and Marlie, take issue with that position.

A shortened version of the comment from Anything is possible:

My heart goes out to this family. Unfortunately, finding out who did this crime will open up another can of worms. A rivergate of deep emotions that will seem you are on a roller coaster where mood swings will be the norm.

Our family too experience a random killing which landed on the LA Times homicide list. He was not on drugs, not in the drug game, did not gang bang. He was just a guy who went to college and worked yet stayed in the old neighborhood. His only crime was that he was too cheap to move to a better neighborhood because he had the funds. Ironically, he had planned to moved but changed his mind because he didn't want to pay more and he was sniffed out a month later. Now our family wonders why he didn't move. If only he moved he wouldn't have been on that block. He wouldn't have been shot. He wouldn't.... He wouldn't this or that.. In all their other scenarios he lives.

In my experience, I have found out that there is no true justice. ...

I beg of you James family, so it does not effect another generation is let the circumstances around Paul's death go and just celebrate his life. Celebrate Paul and not the killer and what he did that day. Continuing the search is celebrating the killer because he/she knows what they did and they get great satisfaction of getting away with it and you not knowing and the police being out smarted. Do not place anymore energy in that. When it is your time to find out it will manifest.

Take the reward money take all of your family on vacation or hold a BBQ in Paul's honor for this year and upcoming years. Refocus that energy. Bond in happiness not sadness over Paul's death. He seemed like a wonderful guy who enjoyed life and especially family.

Prayers to you and your family. Sending you love..

Ghost responds:

The family cares about their loved one, how can you expect them to take the reward money go on vacation and just forget, that's not plausible, every family seeks justice, let the police do their job and the family stay on this coward who murdered their dad, son, brother, cousin etc, you celebrate their memory by making sure this heartless animal doesn't strike again, put the heat on them let them know your not going to rest until this heartless evil individual (s) is caught, then you take a vacation. No rest for the wicked, their out there plotting their next move.

Marlie weighs in as well:

Anything is possible,

No I do not agree with you. Justice is just what is needed by some people. To see the case brought to justice, to see someone pay for what they have done is a time of healing. I think you advice was off by the words you used. I think your heart was in the right place but it was just a poor choice of words that got in the way. There is true justice we find the justice sometimes by finding the person that is guilty of the crime and sometimes we find justice by remembering the person as he/she was. None of us has the right to suggest to another that their way to feel better, to heal is wrong. You may or may not have found your way to heal and I would never tell you just get over it. However, that sounds exactly like what you are telling this family. Take some money and go on vacation and just get over it. Wrong message, good heart.

Anyone with information about the killing of Paul T. James in October 2012 is asked to call the LAPD's Criminal Gang Homicide Division: (213) 485-1383.

— Matt Ballinger