If she'd only had a weapon

[Enjay]

This could have turned out very differently.
(I had to look up K2 spice, apparently it's a form of synthetic THC [pot] that's currently legal)
http://www.live5news.com/story/15482444/cops-report-shooting-at-waffle-house-near-i-20

CAMDEN, SC (WIS) - Investigators have identified the Kershaw County man who killed a taxi driver on Friday before leading deputies on a three-county chase which ended with the suspect taking his own life.

Deputies said the incident began around 3:00pm Friday when Nicholas Rivers, 20, of Camden called for a taxi and asked the driver to take him from Kershaw County to Columbia. "Every time I manage to sleep, I see his face and I see that gun," said cab driver Debra Wright.

According to Kershaw County deputies, Wright's 7-year-old son was in the car with her. She said Rivers had her fearing for the life of her and her young son.

During the ride, deputies say Rivers demanded that the driver take him to California. "Once we got on I-20, he said, 'I need to get to Cali.' And I kind of laughed it off, you know, Cali," said Wright.

When she refused, he pointed a pistol at her head and took her phone and money. "He leaned up over me with the gun in my side," said Wright. "So I knew he was about to shoot me. And right as the car shifted, my son woke up."

Facing death, Wright began saying goodbye to her son. "I said, 'Don't worry baby. Everything's going to be fine. I love you, and don't ever forget that.'"

"And once my son started talking and saying, 'I love you,' the guy leaned back and put the gun down."

Kershaw County deputies said the driver agreed to drive Rivers to Two-Notch Road in Columbia.

Richland County deputies said Rivers forced the driver to call for another cab at the Waffle House on Two Notch. Once Rivers got out of the first taxi, deputies said the driver and her son drove away unharmed.

When the second cab showed up, deputies said Rivers shot the driver multiple times. The victim, 57-year-old Daniel G. Admassu of Irmo, got out of the car and made it into the Waffle House, but later died from his injuries.

Deputies said Rivers got into Admassu's Checker Yellow cab and drove onto Interstate 20 with Richland County deputies in pursuit. Kershaw County deputies joined the chase, which followed I-20 into Kershaw and Lee counties before Rivers exited the interstate and took Highway 34 back toward Camden.

As Rivers approached the Camden city line, police set up a road block with spike strips on Highway 34 near Highway 1. A Kershaw County deputy was able to spin Rivers' car out of control as it crossed the spike strips, forcing the stolen taxi to crash into the guard rail.

After the crash, deputies said Rivers put a gun underneath his chin and fired. He died after being airlifted to Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital.

"As tragic as this whole incident was, it could have been a whole lot worse," said Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews. "High-speed pursuits of an armed murder suspect are extremely dangerous. All of the officers involved showed a great degree of courage and professionalism."

Matthews said Rivers had a history of mental health and substance abuse issues and had recently been treated for K2 spice addiction. He was in possession of marijuana at the time of his death.

Even though Rivers is dead, Wright said his actions continue to terrorize her. "It still bothers me that I was the one who made that call for the other cab to come pick him up," she said.

But she said at least she still has her son.

The Richland County Sheriff's Department is leading the investigation, which includes the Kershaw County Sheriff's Department and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

 

[thebrasilian]

So many issues here.

I have a friend that I used to babysit and change his diapers. He is now 21 and loves to smoke that crap (spice). "Well, it's legal" he keeps telling me. He was kicked out of the Marines. Now he can't keep a job and everything is everyone else's fault.

 

[Sizzle]

So she called for another cab and left? but didnt warn dispatch that the passenger was a gunman? Seems like this chick is a total moron, and should be facing charges herself.

 

[Enjay]

To be fair, the last time I rode in a taxi in SC the driver was using one of those push to talk cell phone radio combo things, and it did say that he took her cell so it's possible that she couldn't call and warn them. But yeah, I had to wonder how the heck she could just drive away and not do anything, knowing that the driver that she called to pick him up was going to have the something happen to them. Even if he got out of the car without hurting her, once he cleared the door he would be fair game to the biggest weapon I had at my disposal, the taxi.

 

[Dave29461]

To be fair, the last time I rode in a taxi in SC the driver was using one of those push to talk cell phone radio combo things, and it did say that he took her cell so it's possible that she couldn't call and warn them. But yeah, I had to wonder how the heck she could just drive away and not do anything, knowing that the driver that she called to pick him up was going to have the something happen to them. Even if he got out of the car without hurting her, once he cleared the door he would be fair game to the biggest weapon I had at my disposal, the taxi.

I have to disagree with you Enjay. She was protecting her son. An automobile is not as bullet proof as the movies would have you believe. The bullets tend to fragment after passing through the sheetmetal or glass and become a spray of projectiles that can shred the interior and the occupants. Car seats, windshields and sheetmetal do not stop bullets. She might have been able to stop out of sight at the next business and called in. Her mind was on survival. She may have a hard time resolving her actions and the death of another cabbie, but bottom line she and her son survived.

 

[Enjay]

Dave,
It is true that guns are far from bullet proof. I guess I had been thinking that he probably had the gun put away while exiting the vehicle and wouldn't have the opportunity to draw it before I hit him. He could well have had it in his hand and even could have directed her how to park etc.
I forget that not everyone has mentally prepared themselves to be as proactive as they can in such a situation.

 

[Dave29461]

That is why there are so many sheep and so few sheepdogs and lots of successful wolves.

 

[PCShogun]

Having a weapon only provides the means to defend yourself, it doesn't provide the opportunity. It is entirely possible that he would have discovered the weapon and taken it. A single round won't always take a suspect down either, inviting more accurate return fire as he doesn't have to turn around in the seat to fire while, possibly, controlling a speeding car.

If I were a cabbie, I would consider body armor. Of course, most cab drivers don't have $200 - $300 lying around for armor.

Having your kid in the car with you makes you vulnerable as you do not want to have to make the choice for your child's life. At least I don't.

Not calling the police or cab company to warn them of this guy? That is tough. I do not know the circumstances but would presume you could run into a store or business and use the phone fairly easily.Saving my life at the cost of someone else would be a hard choice for me to make, but again, I was not there.

 

[Enjay]

Opportunity doesn't always present itself, but I do think being prepared to defend yourself will help you find or create opportunities that someone with a victim mentality would not be able to recognize.
*sigh* It's as wrong to try to force people to take control of their situation as it is to force them into being powerless, isn't it.

 

[Drexellake]

Don't blame the lady driver for this cowards actions. The bottom line is he was the criminal here. Should of, could of, would of, but didn't isn't going to change the fact that one man is dead and one less POS is off the streets.