Good Samaritan Killed with Own Handgun

[Keith B]

This happened in my home town. I know the step-family of the victim. They are really torn up about this.

Summary is the individual was high on meth and being taken by family to rehab. He went crazy, claiming people were after him and trying to kill him, and jumped out of the car. Ran up to one house and when he didn't get in, flagged down the driver and convinced him to give him a ride in to town. Short way down the road the guy goes crazy again and starts fighting with the driver. Driver pulls his gun out of the console and the guy takes it from him. Car comes to stop in the road and the driver is shot twice. Crazy meth head jumps out and starts shooting at other cars, goes around to driver side and climbs in on the lap of the dying driver and drives at a high speed to WalMart. He stops the car in an aisle and runs into Walmart lobby, takes off his shirt and is screaming they are trying to kill him and lays down on floor. Police have already had several calls about the vehicle and arrive quickly at Walmart and arrest the guy. They find the driver still belted in to his seat belt in the car in the parking lot, and had died due to the two gun shot wounds.

Besides the obvious thing of don't pick up strangers, be aware that in close quarters when you are belted into your seat belt, it may be pretty easy for someone to get your gun away from you. Don't put yourself into this situation.

http://www.semissourian.com/story/2284876.html

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/31413861/20 ... identified

[Jusme]

Yeah and the meth head is claiming "bad dope" I hope he never sees the light of day until they turn on the lights to inject the needle.

[mojo84]

That is stuff that is seen in movies. Very sorry for the deceased man and his family.

[joe817]

Yeah and the meth head is claiming "bad dope" I hope he never sees the light of day until they turn on the lights to inject the needle.

Is there such a thing as "good dope" ? That guy needs to put away for good....or permanently.

Prayers sent for Stahl & his family.

As Keith said, never pick up strangers.

[Keith B]

Yeah and the meth head is claiming "bad dope" I hope he never sees the light of day until they turn on the lights to inject the needle.

Unfortunately, he is only charged with 2nd degree murder. For 1st degree it requires premeditation. For the death penalty it would have to be considered capital homicide, which has some pretty precise requirements.

Capital Homicide
Murder committed by one with prior conviction for murder in 1st degree or multiple assaultive convictions; while committing or attempting to commit another homicide; knowingly created great risk of death to more than 1 person; for monetary value; victim was judicial or former judicial officer, present or former prosecuting attorney or assistant prosecuting attorney, assistant circuit attorney, peace officer, elected official during or because of the exercise of official business/duty; for hire; outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman; while escaping, avoiding, or awaiting arrest; engaged in rape, sodomy, burglary, robbery, kidnapping or any felony offense; victim was witness or potential witness; victim was employee of correctional system in course of duty; victim was an inmate of correctional facility/institution; hijacking; to conceal or prevent prosecution of a felony offense; to prevent victim from initiating/aiding prosecution; murder was commission of a crime which is part of a pattern of criminal street gang activity

From the story presently, not sure they would be able to say he was committing any other felony at the time, so not sure he would meet any of the requirements to qualify for the death penalty.

[ELB]

Ugh, that is just awful.

As for another felony -- maybe hijacking? Dunno, but at the very minimum this guy does not need to be let loose for a long, long time.

[anygunanywhere]

I'm certain he was trying to turn his life around.

[MechAg94]

Don't leave you self defense gun in the console between you and a stranger. If it is there, probably best to leave it, pull the keys, and get out.

[JALLEN]

Many of us are probably not prepared for the extreme violence of such an encounter, and can only hope we can avoid such things.

[TangoX-ray]

What a sad incident. This could have gone differently if he had been carrying on-body.

[Keith B]

What a sad incident. This could have gone differently if he had been carrying on-body.

Possibly. On body would have maybe given him the opportunity to draw and fire more discretely, but we don't know that for sure. No matter, CQB (Close Quarters Battle) is a tough situation and unless you have been trained in tactics it can go bad very quickly. Even those trained in it will do everything they can to put distance between them and the perpetrator.