This is a terribly tragic event, but it is also a really interesting case.
Carson Senfield, from Buffalo, New York, was shot dead at 1am on Saturday when he entered the stranger’s vehicle by mistake – but so far the unidentified shooter has not been arrested.
The sophomore, who was not known to the driver, was shot in the upper body and now the State’s Attorney is to decide whether the motorist was justified in killing the teen under Florida’s controversial ‘Stand Your Ground Law’.
[…]
The driver inside that car said he was in fear of his life when he shot and killed Seinfeld, according to investigators.
Tampa Police Department said that the driver was not arrested – and it’s now up to the State Attorney’s Office to decide if the shooter was justified in his actions or not.
Horrible, horrible, horrible event. But was it a crime?
It’s 1 am and some strange man gets in your car unannounced. We don’t really know what the behavior was, but the driver thought he was in danger and reacted. Did he think he was being carjacked? Robbed? Kidnapped? It could have been anything.
I’ve ridden Uber and Lyft hundreds of times. I don’t think I’ve ever just gotten into a car. Usually there is an exchange of greetings and I wait for the driver to say my name so that I know that he or she is actually on the other end of the app. I also check the license plate with the app. If I just jumped into a car uninvited, might the driver panic and take action? Maybe. I might if I were the driver.
I think it all comes down to whether or not we believe that it is reasonable for the driver to feel endangered when a man jumps in his car at 1 am.
Still, what a horrible loss for the family and a tragic death.
I going to say it was a crime because the guy made a mistake.
Did he pose a threat to anyone?
Did he make any threatening moves or comments?
Opening a door and perhaps starting to sit down is not a threatening action
I would say it is not a crime because we have no idea if the guy just ‘made a mistake’. If he was dropped off near his home, why is he getting into a car except that A) He thought it was his, and there is no such detail in the story, or B) he just saw an unlocked car door and was going into it for a quick rifling, robbing and/or car theft. Or C) A less likely scenario of some sort.
I admit, I would not shoot until the person did not immediately leave, but guns have a limited range of efficacy and under 3 feet is one of its least effective ranges. He better jump the hell out immediately when he sees me pointing a gun at him or I believe the purpose is nefarious.
Just a guess but the kid was probably drunk celebrating his birthday (yes, even at 19). He got out of the Uber and mistakenly got back in a car (maybe he thought it was the same Uber, we will never know?). I wonder what door he got into? Passenger, back passenger, behind driver? How do you quickly go from someone getting in your car to shooting them? Were ANY words exchanged? Did he even get IN the car or just trying to get the door open?
This sounds like a pretty honest AWFUL tragedy. We don’t have any of the answers to the questions that would inform us as to if the driver acted properly or was too quick on the trigger. It sucks for everyone involved.
>This sounds like a pretty honest AWFUL tragedy. We don’t have any of the answers to the questions that would inform us as to if the driver acted properly or was too quick on the trigger. It sucks for everyone involved.
Well said, there is not enough info to damn the car owner (unless he damns himself with testimony) so tragedy is the best word for it.