RIP Sean Smith, aka "Vile Rat"

[VADM pRett]

As we're occasionally reminded, there are real people behind the user names and avatars on our boards, as well as in any games we play online. One of these, a player that went by the character name "Vile Rat" in EVE Online was one of the State Department officials killed on Tuesday in Benhgazi, Libya.

His last words to his comrades were via a messenger program called "Jabber"

[vile_rat 9/11/12 2:40 PM]: [CENSORED]
[vile_rat 9/11/12 2:40 PM]: gunfire

He was a very influential and respected member of the EVE community, and leaves behind a wife and two children.

There are several places you can read tributes to him:

EVE Devblog

The Mittani

Facebook page

RIP, Sean, aka "Vile Rat."

P.S.: If you've already seen this via my feed on Facebook, sorry for the "double-post," but I felt it was worthy to be posted here, as well. He was former USAF.

[Gerron Vek]

I remember reading in the paper that he was active in the game community but it was an after thought in the article. Literally the last sentence. I wondered where he was active. Thanks for sharing this.

[xlxMAVERICxlx]

I remember reading about that on Kotaku. The whole situation was insane. It's crazy how humans will act when it comes to faith and religion. Very sad day. Makes me want to try EVE again.