# Man shots carjacker trying to drag a woman out of car. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 3, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183 "2015-05-03T22:29:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/21 "2015-05-04T11:53:14Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > Hmm, I don’t know. Just based on the article in the OP, I don’t see any indication that the guy meant the woman any harm other than wanting her car. I have a metal plate holding the pieces of my skull together, because a thief did not want any witnesses. If a person is willing to break the law against theft, you have no guarantee that they will obey the law against homicide. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/22 "2015-05-04T12:33:01Z")
Sounds like an entirely justified shooting, I just can’t get on board with celebrating the killing of a human being. Killing a human being is sometimes justified, sometimes unavoidable, hell- sometimes even heroic …but it is always sad. It’s not a happy end to any story. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/23 "2015-05-04T13:12:22Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > If a person is willing to break the law against theft, you have no guarantee that they will obey the law against homicide. That’s why crooks should get life imprisonment for swiping a slice of pizza and children should be hanged for stealing a loaf a bread. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/24 "2015-05-04T13:57:04Z")
I wish the carjacker would have just run away when the Good Samaritan approached with his gun. Or at least sat down and remained still until the police arrived. There was no need to die over a carjacking. But he choose to attack the Good Samaritan and tried to grab the gun. Its his own fault for making a poor decision. He paid for it with his life. There’s no way to know if he would have abducted and harmed the lady. There’s a good possibility that he would have wanted more than the car. Her ATM card could have gotten him some cash too. She might have been a useful hostage. There’s a lot of bad outcomes that might occur. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/25 "2015-05-04T14:14:51Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > There’s no way to know if he would have abducted and harmed the lady. I think when you’re abducting someone you’re dragging them into the car, not out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/26 "2015-05-04T15:05:06Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > Just based on the article in the OP, I don’t see any indication that the guy meant the woman any harm other than wanting her car. He was dragging her from the vehicle. That’s violent, and at least implies further potential violence. It is standard for carjackers to threaten death for resistance. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/27 "2015-05-04T15:30:38Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > That’s why crooks should get life imprisonment for swiping a slice of pizza and children should be hanged for stealing a loaf a bread. And you should have to wear wet socks for this stupid post. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/28 "2015-05-04T15:42:23Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > He was dragging her from the vehicle. That’s violent, and at least implies further potential violence. It is standard for carjackers to threaten death for resistance. At the risk of tarnishing my liberal credentials, I agree. The risk of being shot ought to be an occupational hazard for any car thief, even if he (or she) is hotwiring a Buick in someone’s driveway at 4am, but carjacking is not just a property theft, it’s an act of violence. Good riddance. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/29 "2015-05-04T16:35:09Z")
Do not call other people trolls or imply they are trolls in this forum. No warning issued. > [@G0sp3l](#): > > Find someone else to play your games with, I’m embarrassed for falling for the troll in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/30 "2015-05-04T17:50:16Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > There’s no way to know if he would have abducted and harmed the lady. Moreover, this is Utah, after all. The carjacker has to assume that there are likely to be several kids in the vehicle. > [@mbh](#): > > I have a metal plate holding the pieces of my skull together, because a thief did not want any witnesses. Good to know, in case I need a ricochet shot to bring the assailant down. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/31 "2015-05-04T19:26:40Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > And you should have to wear wet socks for this stupid post. Why stupid? **mbh** said a thief would kill since he’s a thief, suggesting any thief deserved to be shot. That opinion, though wrongheaded, knows no shortage of adherents. I merely pointed out its lack of logic with real examples, one of which is recent history. I’m sure mbh has thanked you for rushing to his/her defence. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/32 "2015-05-05T04:41:57Z")
He was physically pulling the driver out of the car? It doesn’t matter if he was pulling her into the car or out of the car. If you physically forcibly move a person from any point A to any other point B, without consent, that’s abduction. This was an abduction in progress. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/33 "2015-05-05T07:44:19Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > He was physically pulling the driver out of the car? > > It doesn’t matter if he was pulling her into the car or out of the car. If you physically forcibly move a person from any point A to any other point B, without consent, that’s abduction. > > This was an abduction in progress. :dubious: It’s certainly an assault (possibly aggravated), but the kidnapping statute requires moving someone “a substantial distance” or detaining them for “a substantial period of time.” Moving someone a couple of feet long enough to steal their car isn’t going to cut it. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/34 "2015-05-05T13:05:34Z")
The alleged carjacker’s family would like to remind you that he was a nice person. \*" Matafeo’s family says he was a defenseless victim. “He was scared and panicked and just trying find a way to get home,” a statement from his family reads. “Taulagi was not perfect, he struggled, but he was surrounded by many loving individuals who were trying to help him. He wanted to be happy, and for the most part he was. He loved unconditionally. “He cried a lot with us, because he hated having pain and creating pain. Taulagi putting it simply just wanted to be loved and accepted and recognized. Therefore he gave hugs and amazing ones.” "\* > **[Utah Good Samaritan Kills Attempted Carjacking Suspect](https://abcnews.go.com/US/utah-good-samaritan-kills-attempted-carjacking-suspect/story?id=30808789)** > > An unidentified man is being credited for stopping an alleged attempted carjacking in Utah, ending with his fatally shooting the suspect, authorities said. The same story cites “gun control advocates” as deploring the shooting, saying the bystander should have rescued the woman without violence, although stopping short of saying he should have given the carjacker a hug. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183/35 "2015-05-05T13:51:39Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > That’s why crooks should get life imprisonment for swiping a slice of pizza and children should be hanged for stealing a loaf a bread. Those are punishments handed down by the state after a thief has been apprehended, given a trial, and found guilty. That is not the same as a criminal being killed while he is actively committing a crime. Who the state executes for what, or how long a person can be imprisoned for some crime has no bearing; especially since the criminal in this particular incident was killed by an armed citizen not a cop or other representative of the state. Not everybody is willing to count on the essential kindheartedness of carjackers and other violent criminals. As has been noted before, the best way to avoid being killed while committing a crime is to not commit any crimes. The world is better off without Taulagi despite the sheer awesomeness of his hugs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-shots-carjacker-trying-to-drag-a-woman-out-of-car/719183.md?page=1)