A recent tribute concert full of local artists held for a man who was killed a few months ago showed the importance of another side of journalism — empathy.

Journalism is normally a science based on collecting facts and presenting the story with objectivity. No matter if that’s a police officer sharing the facts of a collision, festival organizers describing the work that went into their event, or young students telling you about their art, the goal is generally to be a fly on the wall. Well, most times it’s to be a fly on the wall.

But sometimes, you just need to be a person. Forget the notepad, forget looking at something from the outside. Allow what’s happening to affect you. Be in the moment. That’s what happened Saturday night at Messy Jessy’s Bar and Grill when the establishment’s owners Dustin and Jessy Knutson teamed up with Christopher Haley — owner of Redact Records and guitarist for A Lien Nation — to put on a tribute show for Alex Montoya.

Montoya, 37, died in late April in Olympia after he was stabbed to death. His mother, Shauna Montoya, found him lying on the street outside of her home, according to a KING 5 report in May. The men who were found in connection with Montoya’s death are facing charges related to that night.

Many friends of Alex, plus a large number of Alex’s family, came together Saturday to watch several talented, local artists and bands play their hearts out. In addition to the music, there were raffles for a variety of items and good cheer had by many. The proceeds from the door tickets and the raffle tickets went to the family and Alex’s surviving son.

A tough scene by itself, Shauna made it feel personal. That’s when I put down my notepad.

I figured I’d write notes, take photos, talk to a bunch of people about what Alex meant to them and maybe their favorite memories of Alex. And then I’d try my best to write a really good story as I always do. But Shauna asked me to dance.

She hugged me tight. She tried to get me to dance, but my feet were cement blocks so she sort of had to drag me.

I didn’t know who she was until the end of that first dance, when she asked me for my name and she told me her name — Shauna. After checking the previously mentioned media report, I held my head in one of my hands in sheer disappointment in myself for not connecting the dots.

“She’s the mom, oh god,” I said quietly to myself.

I thought I had screwed up. Shauna needed comfort and I couldn’t give her that.

I started reacting more to the situation. I felt my eyes welling up. I put down the camera and I put down the pen and notepad. I had the feeling this response to the moment wasn’t going away. I excused myself and went to the bathroom, where I sat for a few minutes to collect myself.

I thought of my own mom, who lives in Illinois. I just thought how much I wanted to hug her. I thought about my three brothers and how she would feel if she were in Shauna’s position. I needed a hug. After taking a breath and then wiping my eyes with the clean toilet paper from the bathroom, I walked back over to one of the chairs near the stage.

A few more songs played before Shauna approached me again. Thankfully, I didn’t give her a bad first impression. She asked me to dance again, so I did. My feet weren’t cement blocks this time. And I voluntarily hugged her tighter, just as she hoped I would the first time. She whispered to me how she lost her only son and she just wanted to hold onto someone. She told me her son loved me. I never met Alex, but it was only right to nod and tell her “I know.”

My eyes started welling up again, but I was able to maintain my composure. This was supposed to be a celebration for Alex, not a funeral. Note, the music was good and it seemed loaded with passion.

Several songs and an artist or two later, Shauna asked me to dance for a third time. We embraced again. She kissed me on the cheek the way only a mom would. I think she may have seen a bit of her son in me, which I’ll take as a high compliment. From what the musicians were saying about “Al,” as they called him, it sounds as though he was a great guy.

During our third foray onto the impromptu dance floor at Messy Jessy’s, she asked why the musicians were playing such sad songs. I said “I think it’s because they miss their friend.” She asked why couldn’t they play something happy to remember their friend. So I asked Dustin if the last artist could play something happier.

A couple minutes before I left, I walked up to Shauna. I gave her the biggest hug I could. With my eyes welling up again, I left a few minutes later. I hope they played something more upbeat, perhaps Alex’s favorite song. I hope they did it just for his mom and his many other family members and friends who were there.

The point is, I don’t remember what all the raffle prizes were. I didn’t write down an assortment of quotes. All I remember is everyone who showed up to Messy Jessy’s on Saturday night misses their friend “Al,” and now, so do I.

Just be a person.

Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.