Gray-Eyed Cole sat by his bedroom window, gazing out at the road while holding a scoped Ruger 10/22 rifle, a weapon often used for hunting squirrels. The scene outside was tranquil, punctuated by the presence of a quilt spread out on a clothesline below him, catching the warm summer air. This moment epitomized a peaceful day in his life, surrounded by the simple joys of home.
Later in the day, the...