Steven L. Fountain, who was known online as slf, was killed by police in Campbell, California (near San Jose) on Wednesday, September 7th. He was 24 years old, and the father of a young child. A friend of his says, "Steven was a computer systems administrator and programmer. Kind, quirky, and energetic..." He maintained the dreamscape.org web site. Up the River, Steven's blog, includes photos, poetry, and digital art that he created in the last months of his life.
Police had been called to a Motel 6 in Campbell because a man was reportedly standing on the balcony, screaming. When police arrived, they said, they saw Steven Fountain on the balcony, holding a knife. They allegedly told him to drop the knife, but they say that he kept holding it and stepped towards them. They used a TASER on him, and police said that when he continued to advance, he was shot. He was taken to the hospital, where he died. Read more