Who in their right mind leaves a car to go into a shop with the engine running even with no kids in . Her stupid action got a man killed. She should be charged with child endangerment
@Beth Gallagher No, you needn't, and admittedly your reasoning regarding this OP is sound, of course. The causes for the drastic societal changes we have seen can be debated endlessly. Inexplicably, crime rates, in general, seem to have relaxed quite a bit. Frank
When I "OP'd", I didn't expect a great response, but least of all, the "spin" which emerged mourning the criminal's death! A number of folks seem inclined to place some, if not all, of the blame for his death on others. That he died is completely unrelated to the criminal act committed by him. He surely knew stealing a car, much less stealing a car with children in it, carried high risk, if pursued, especially if by police, yet he took the chance. Why in the world should we feel sorry for him, when his act created a terribly sorry circumstance for the victims? Political Correctness now "rulz", despite common sense and traditional standards. Frank
I don't feel sorry for him, since ultimately he made the choice to steal the car. But I maintain that if the opportunity (provided by the mother) had not presented itself, he'd probably be alive today.
@Beth Gallagher Yes, and free to pursue his criminal activities as evidenced by his past. Of course, we learned that after the fact, so it doesn't really count here. It would be interesting to know his background in detail, to learn how many slaps on the wrist he received.......it's said often that petty criminal success encourages deeper criminal activity. Frank
I'm with Frank on this one. The fact that someone was given the opportunity to commit a crime through carelessness does not excuse the crime. If I leave my keys in my car, as I often do, or even if I were to leave it running, which I rarely do, that doesn't mean that someone has the right to steal it.
@Ken Anderson Interesting thought to extend via P.C.: Providing the means to commit, or empowering to allow the commission of a crime, could nowadays be considered a "right" to commit. Tread not on individuals' "rights". Frank
I don't think it should be, but it is a crime to leave your car running in many places, and to leave your keys in the car, as well, but that crime does not negate the crime of theft of a car.
No-one's saying he had the right to steal it, we said right off the bat he committed a crime...of which he would have deserved a punishment... If you had left your car engine running, and he stole your car.. what would give you the right to take his life..or to incite a mob to do it?...
If you go back to the beginning...that which started this whole problem...in my book it would have to be the mother leaving her 3 kids in the car and the car running and the keys in the ignition.
The woman was foolish to leave her children in the car with the motor running. The car napper was foolish to get in and drive off. When he jumped out and tried to run away, the father was foolish to run after him. But it was the mob mentality that killed him. Mobs will kill where a single person will not.
“He fled on foot about a half a block. And the boyfriend caught up to him and there was some sort of physical struggle that ensued,” Mr Small said. “Then other males from the neighbourhood intervened and began punching and kicking the male who took the vehicle.”
Oh well, I wouldn't cry over him. Leaving the car unattended was careless, but shouldn't be a crime. The boyfriend running after him is understandable. The mob beating thing could be a crime, depending on how it went down. The death was a consequence of the crime. We would all be safer if criminals had reasons to fear us.
Maybe the good coming out of this is if any car thief hears the story is: He will: 1. Look to see if there are kids in the car before stealing it. 2. Realize that instead of a slap on the wrist from our justice system, he just might get his a$$ kicked or die right their on the spot. It's a win win.