There's something to learn from the life of Lagene Lawson, who committed suicide in Cranberry Township early Saturday while being pursued by police.

Lawson's life and the circumstances leading up to his death suggest what can happen when a young person isn't provided proper guidance from an early age.

Lawson's first brush with law enforcement came when he was only 10, when he vandalized a New Castle church.

New Castle police Detective Sgt. Kevin Seelbaugh told the Butler Eagle that “we had him for 25 incidents as a juvenile.” And, his life of crime continued when he could be charged as an adult.

Lawson grew up in a tough New Castle housing project and most recently might have been living with a girlfriend in Butler. Suffice to say he was living a transient lifestyle during the months preceding his death.

It was a fight with the girlfriend — he allegedly assaulted her and the woman's friend — that began the chain of events leading to the police chase, which culminated with Lawson driving a stolen car into the Cranberry Commons shopping plaza.

While the car still was moving, Lawson pointed a semi-automatic pistol at his head and pulled the trigger. The car then crashed into the Lane Bryant store.

Lawson, 19, was found dead behind the wheel of the car.

Despite his life of crime, Lawson's death was tragic from the standpoint of the apparent lack of guidance and opportunity to be a productive member of society. Once his family lost control of him, virtually everyone he came in contact with was at risk.

But no child is born bad; that develops over time and by way of a lack of discipline and guidance beginning at an early age.

In Lawson's case, judging from the progression of his wrongdoing, had he lived he probably would have ended up on death row — or serving life in prison — for homicide. He had moved up the criminal ladder to attempted homicide, and his girlfriend apparently didn't fully understand what he was capable of, and the danger he posed to her, her family and her friends — at least not until the end.

Indeed, he was a danger for Butler County anytime he was here — including that final chase when he tried to avoid apprehension first by Adams Township police and then also by Cranberry Township officers.

Fortunately, there were no innocent people in his path.

For people heading down the wrong path in life, there is professional help available, including advice and guidance from therapists, clergy and others.

No family should throw up its hands and embrace the attitude that “there's nothing we can do.”

It's unfortunate that Lawson's growing up in a tough housing project planted the seed for trouble and then full-fledged criminal activity. It's unfortunate that he grew up without the influence of a strong father figure who was able to adequately address his problems when they first began and then otherwise influence him to lead a law-abiding life.

As cruel as it might seem to express the opinion, it's a fact that Western Pennsylvania is a safer place without Lagene Lawson. But at the same time it is tragic that he cannot be remembered for something good and productive.