Heart breaking

So, no doubt you've heard about that crazy SWAT team barricade that happened in Manassas yesterday and today. If not:

http://www2.insidenova.com/isn/news/crime/article/standoff_ends_gunman_dead/61452/

I read it on some facebook statuses last night and didn't really care. This morning, I went to read the actual story. My train of thought was as follows:

"Carlson? I knew a guy with that last name. 20 year old son named Josh... Holy shit."

Then I picked up my phone, sent out a text, and immediately got confirmation.

"He's not a bad guy, I swear!"

Josh Carlson was one of my closest friends in middle school. I met him through Punzi, and he was sort of my counselor, since I was whiney and emo in 8th grade. I would listen to his stories too, mostly revolving around his father and his painful home life. We lost contact after he moved, but somehow we always came back into contact. At the beginning of this summer he got my number again from someone, and we started communicating. We started our friendship again, and it was really nice. He looks so tough and he's had a hard time, but he's one of the sweetest guys I know.

And then I read that article and my heart stopped. I talked to him for awhile this morning. He was tired. He hadn't slept in 30 hours. He wanted the media to stop hounding on him. And now the most recent update... I can't even imagine. He just started replying again, and now I'm going to go be there for him.