Brendan Sullivan ’22, Staff Writer
Image source: Steve Marcus/ Las Vegas Sun
Life can change in seconds, and if you don’t believe that, take a look at the Henry Ruggs case. Last week, Las Vegas Raiders WR Henry Ruggs III was out with his girlfriend and friends, where video surveillance shows him golfing and having a few drinks. Later that night, he made a choice that changed his life forever. Despite consuming alcohol, Ruggs decided to drive home with his girlfriend. Around 3:40 a.m, Rugg’s sports car slammed into an SUV that took the life of a 23-year old woman and her dog.
Ruggs is only 22 years old, just a year older than me, and probably a few years older than or even the same age as most people reading this. The difference though is he’s a 22-year-old millionaire, playing in the National Football League. Although his fame and lifestyle are unique, he’s still a young kid, learning how to live and navigate adult life. That is no excuse for what he did, driving under the influence, having blood alcohol 2 times over the legal limit, and risking your life, but more importantly, the life of others is inexcusable. It goes to show how life can change in the blink of an eye.
A 1st round pick in 2020, Ruggs III attended Alabama University and played under legendary coach Nick Saban. Drafted that early, the expectation was for Ruggs III to turn into a superstar wide receiver, but Ruggs will never get the chance to live up to the expectations around him. Not only is his playing career over, but likely his life as well. He’s currently facing four felony charges, including two counts of reckless driving and two counts of driving under the influence. He’s also facing a misdemeanor for the possession of a gun under the influence of alcohol. If found guilty of all charges, he could face up to a minimum of 2 years with a maximum of 50 years in prison. As of now, he’s currently on house arrest after posting $150,000 bail and forbidden to drive as the details and case against him continue to be released.
It’s hard to feel sympathy for Henry Ruggs III because his actions were all made by him. He decided to drink and drive(where he reached a top speed of 156 mph), and because of his actions, he ended the life of an innocent woman. It’s even harder to feel pity for him when you think about all the options available such as Uber or Lyft, which make it super easy to get a ride home. However, it’s hard to see a 22-year-old kid’s life ruined based on one decision. Life is all about 2nd chances, learning from our mistakes, and growing as individuals. Unfortunately, in this case, the mistake he made impacted and ended the life of a 23-year-old woman, whose life barely even started. And because of that, he needs to face the consequences against him.
