This week's featured reader comments

This week, our look at Homicide Report reader comments highlights a sad dichotomy: of the three victims, two were teenagers and one was in her 70s. The heartfelt sentiments of these comments also highlight why we are keenly interested in your contributions to this project.

Peter Young wrote this month about Marietta Goodridge, 72, who died Jan. 16, 2011:

These comments demonstrate the horrible ripple effects murder has, the huge number of people affected. This dear old lady was much loved by family and, by all the evidence, everyone who knew her. What a loss to the community. If only all of us acted as members of that community.

Ritchie Ortiz Orellana says he saw his older brother gunned down in the street. Osmar Israel Orellana, 18, was killed July 24, 2013:

I was there when they shot him he was my only big brother I can see all the time I'm 12 years old and I miss him so much I'm sad without him

And finally, Arturo Guijarro says that despite the years, he hasn't forgotten his friend, Jason Valdez-Perez, 17, who was shot in the head in Watts on Oct. 6, 2007:

Its been 6 years and 6 days since one of my best friends was murdered, and for some reason i still think im gonna recieve a phone call of him cracking a joke always made someone smile i miss you Jason you left us too soon. I love you.

— Matt Ballinger