Alas, the old year ended in ways the new year should not begin.

That was our thought upon reading about the wild scene reported at La Viva Grocery, 1049 Stadium Road, on Friday.

There, authorities said, an unnamed suspect pilfered a donation jar from the counter, then fled afoot. Good Samaritan witness chased the suspect until he pulled out a handgun and fired shots in their vicinity.

A city spokeswoman said when police arrived, they heard shots fired from an alleyway and gave chase, eventually finding the suspect and taking him into custody without further incident.

Police said they recovered the money and what was said to be a stolen handgun. So our suspect has a world of trouble ahead of him for what would have been, had he escaped, a haul that amounted to loose change.

Don’t focus on the paltry sum from a donation jar. Don’t focus on the low crime of stealing money meant for the poor and the unfortunate.

Don’t focus on the criminal himself. There seemed to be confusion over whether he was a juvenile or an adult. When you fire bullets indiscriminately, though, you’re a danger to the world and should be treated as such, age notwithstanding.

Don’t focus on the stupidity of first, risking your freedom for a petty theft and second, ratcheting up the criminal culpability for your actions by adding gunplay on top of it. But these were not the actions of a criminal genius.

Focus, instead, if the facts bear out, on the callous disregard for the lives of others that emerges apparent when a purposeful gunman fires wildly in the direction of others. Don’t tell us this was about sheer panic by the suspect; he obtained and carried that handgun for a reason. His intentions were made clear when he pulled out the gun and pulled the trigger. He wanted his pennies, no matter the cost to the world around him.

That’s why Greater Port Arthur ought to think long and hard about this new year and how we, as a united and concerned people, should approach it.

Is this the year when our schools, churches and civic organizations make extra efforts to impress upon young people the consequences of evil and dangerous actions? Is this the year when parents hold frank discussions with their children about right vs. wrong? Is this the year when we support local law enforcement officers in their every righteous action in protecting and serving the law-abiding and innocent citizens of our community?

What happened as reported at La Viva and in the alleyway nearby ought to serve as warning shots. Pay heed this year, so we can live to see the next.