Cathy Costello: Oklahoma Strong: One Family’s Tragedy
Oklahoma strong: One family’s tragedy
By CATHY COSTELLO
My son murdered his father, Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Mark Costello, at an Oklahoma City ice cream shop.
Right in front of me.
Not only did everything change for my family at that moment, but many others were also instantly and permanently impacted: Families out for a treat on a warm summer Sunday. Teens dropping in for a fast food bite. The employees of the restaurant were thrust into the midst of unforgettably graphic violence that will forever haunt them simply because they happened to be at work at that moment.
Each year 2 million people are injured by violent acts in the workplace, many of which are tied to some type of mental illness. Authorities at the U.S. Department of Justice say that workplace violence is one of the leading causes of fatal injuries in the United States.