Another animation tragedy
What is going on? So far–not including the old time animators, we’ve lost Ryan Larkin, Gilbert Taggart, Alexander Tatarsky, Helen Hill and Paul Boyd. With all due respect to everyone, none have been more tragic and unnecessary than the deaths of Hill and Boyd. Most already know the story of Hill’s murder in January 2007. Now come news that veteran animator, Paul Boyd, who was working at Vancouver’s Global Mechanic, was shot and killed by Vancouver police last week. The details remains very murky, but by most accounts Boyd, who has bipolar disorder, was wielding a bike lock and chain and swinging it at police. Boyd apparently injured two cops before being shot to death by the third. As I said, it’s tough to know what really happened, but the whole think reeks of extreme behaviour from police. Can three policemen–with an array of means to disarm the situation–really unable to handle a single man with a bike lock chain? Could 1 or 2 not have distracted him? At worst, could they not have shot Boyd simply to wound him? One witness compared Boyd’s death to an execution, claiming he was on his knees when the last shots were fired.
Again, hopefully more details will come out, but as it stands now, Paul Boyd’s murder (which is apparently how it’s being treated) was unnecessary.
I thought that Helen Hill’s murder would be a once in a lifetime thing. I certainly didnt expect two murders of animators within months of each other.
Sad times.
August 20th, 2007 at 1:20 pm e
I worked with Paul for 3 years in Vancouver…my heart just breaks for his family. I can’t help but imagine the terror of his last moments and I can’t keep the tears back. Regardless of the illness, Paul was good guy who will be really missed. I didn’t know him very well but I really liked Paul. So so sad.