camslam
Member
This is the kind of story that usually gets a nice division of opinion here on The High Road.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/.../02/20/20100220phoenix-beer-run-homicide.html
I posted this story as a reminder to all of us that there are bad people out there and we NEED to be prepared for situations that can and do happen. A few observations based on my opinion:
1. What a stupid, tragic, senseless murder and death.
2. This guy (23 year old victim) tried to do the right thing and now he is dead. Although he tried to do the right thing, it is probably safe to say there were things he could have done better. But I give him credit for attempting to stop a theft and not just sit by full of apathy while another criminal did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, to whomever he wanted.
3. This world is a pathetic place where people will kill someone for a watch, beer, money, a tv, etc... Where is or what has happened to a simple respect for life?
4. I would hope we can avoid the Monday Morning Quarterbacking on this story from all the usual "Boo Birds" here on THR regarding this man's actions.
I for one am glad there are people that still believe in doing the right thing, I just wish they were better prepared and could have made better decisions.
I know these stories usually divide THR into one of two camps and hopefully we can avoid that usual debate and just learn something from this. Everyone has to decide for themselves what is right, what is worth acting on, and how they would act on it. There is no way we'll come to a consensus here, so we may as well file this under whatever heading we want and learn from it.
Stay safe out there.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/.../02/20/20100220phoenix-beer-run-homicide.html
A man who police said tried to stop a beer run at a Circle K in west Phoenix was shot and killed Friday night.
Lance Taylor, 23, was with his wife and mother in front of the convenience store near 43rd Avenue and McDowell Road about 9 p.m. when a man in his late teens or early 20s entered the store acting suspicious, said Trent Crump, a spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department.
The man, police said, went to a cooler and took two 30 packs of beer and walked toward the exit when Taylor blocked his path and told him to return the beer. Taylor confronted the man because he knew the employees there and wanted to help, Crump said.
The man did what he was told and as he was leaving he took a handgun from his waistband and started waving it and yelling at store employees and Taylor. Taylor backed away from the man and as the man left the store gun in hand, he met with Taylor's wife who was opening the door, Crump said. The man said something to the woman then hit her in the head with his pistol, police said.
After seeing his wife struck, Taylor came up behind the man outside of the store and was shot in front of his wife and mother.
The Phoenix Fire Department treated his wound and took him to St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center but he died of his injuries. Taylor's wife suffered a minor head injury.
Crump said the assailant either fled east on McDowell Road or got into a brown-colored two-door Chevrolet Malibu.
Crump said he is asking anyone with information to call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS and for Spanish at 480-TESTIGO.
"The arrogance that this suspect showed in this is chilling, and we're asking for the public's help in locating this individual," Crump said.
The man is considered armed and dangerous.
"We need to get this person off the street he shot and killed this good samaritan who was trying to help last night in cold blood," Crump said.
I posted this story as a reminder to all of us that there are bad people out there and we NEED to be prepared for situations that can and do happen. A few observations based on my opinion:
1. What a stupid, tragic, senseless murder and death.
2. This guy (23 year old victim) tried to do the right thing and now he is dead. Although he tried to do the right thing, it is probably safe to say there were things he could have done better. But I give him credit for attempting to stop a theft and not just sit by full of apathy while another criminal did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, to whomever he wanted.
3. This world is a pathetic place where people will kill someone for a watch, beer, money, a tv, etc... Where is or what has happened to a simple respect for life?
4. I would hope we can avoid the Monday Morning Quarterbacking on this story from all the usual "Boo Birds" here on THR regarding this man's actions.
I for one am glad there are people that still believe in doing the right thing, I just wish they were better prepared and could have made better decisions.
I know these stories usually divide THR into one of two camps and hopefully we can avoid that usual debate and just learn something from this. Everyone has to decide for themselves what is right, what is worth acting on, and how they would act on it. There is no way we'll come to a consensus here, so we may as well file this under whatever heading we want and learn from it.
Stay safe out there.