Making the Decision to Intervene in a Crime

[Jennifer Chase]

Have you ever been confronted with a decision as to whether or not you would place yourself in the middle of a dangerous situation in order to stop a criminal?  Are you one to try and break up a fight, tackle a fleeing shoplifter, or confront a person who was acting suspiciously?  There usually is not time in such moments to evaluate your own safety and weigh all of the possible consequences.  You just act on instinct.  For one man in New Orleans, this desire to do good cost him his life.

Harry “Mike” Ainsworth was waiting with his two young sons at their bus stop on Wednesday (last week) when he witnessed a carjacking take place.  A woman was ordered out of her car at gunpoint in their New Orleans community.  Ainsworth took action, jumping on the hood of the vehicle to stop the would-be car thief from getting away.  The carjacker shot Ainsworth and fled on foot, leaving the dad to die with his boys by his side.  Ainsworth’s killer is now being sought by police.  The woman who owned the car was unharmed.

I want to think that if I saw a fellow human in danger, I would intervene in the best way possible.  I’m not sure what that would have meant in this particular situation.  We’ll never know what was going through Mr. Ainsworth’s mind when he decided to place himself in front of someone with a gun.  Maybe he believed the man posed a threat to his kids.  Perhaps he simply was irate at the notion of this crime taking place in his neighborhood.  Whatever his reasoning may have been, it is horrible that his murder was witnessed by his children and that these boys lost their father in one tragic and senseless moment.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Ainsworth’s family and friends.

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Author Blog: http://authorjenniferchase.com/

Crime Watch Blog: http://emilystonecrimewatch.wordpress.com/

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Books: Compulsion  Dead Game  Dark Mind  Silent Partner  Screenwriting

[Jennifer Chase]

I agree. Take note and remember absolutely everything you can about a crime taking place.

[Benjamin Sobieck]

Unless someone is going to absolutely die, I'm going to help by taking action after the threat has passed. Taking notes of the crime so police can better track down the offender is a good place to start.