A Carjacking, a Horrible Accident, and a Conclusion
Today, we believe a fellow resident of our neighborhood (certainly of our town) was carjacked and then killed in an insuing car accident. The suspect, in the course of taking the vehicle with her still in it, ended up in a collision with a cement truck, killing the carjacking victim. The one bright spot in the story (if there really could be one) is that another neighbor witnessed the carjacking and at the conclusion of the car accident pulled out his firearm to subdue the carjacker. The carjacker drew his own weapon at which point the civilian fired and killed the carjacker.
Still carrying a handgun, the carjacker fled from the SUV on foot, running toward the Raceway gas station on the northeast corner of the intersection.
A man who had witnessed the carjacking and followed the Sequioa in his black 2004 Dodge Ram truck confronted the gunman in the intersection. According to police, the citizen ? identified as Shawn Roberts ? shot the suspect three times, killing him.
And here is the part that is missing in so many tragic stories. A well trained citizen carrying a firearm was there. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to intervene in time to save the woman, but he certainly prevented any further loss of life. I say well-trained because he hit the guy three times. And the good folks around here understand the value of what happened too:
Rebecca Porter, who says she saw the shooting from her nearby business, says Roberts? actions might have actualy prevented another loss of life.
?He didn?t have a chance,? she said.
?He pointed his gun and the other guy started shooting, which is a good thing because if he had gotten away, somebody else could have gotten hurt. So, I feel bad for him, but I?m kind of grateful. That I?m normally here alone, it?s really scary.?
The Cobb County police get it too:
Cobb County police said it appeared the citizen acted lawfully and, quite possibly, prevented another crime from taking place.
I feel absolutely horrible for the family of the woman killed. But I am glad that there is one less painful trial they’ll have to endure. We need more folks in this country who are prepared to defend themselves and others.