Posted on 01/28/2005 5:41:03 AM PST by Pharmboy
Rick Dembow January 28, 2005 -- A stunning 28-year-old actress died in her fiancé's arms yesterday after a Lower East Side thug answered her challenge — "What are you going to do, shoot us?" — by firing a single bullet into her chest, cops said. Nicole DuFresne, of Brooklyn, had just left a trendy bar with her fiancé and another couple when they were confronted at about 3:15 a.m. by four muggers — two men and two women — at the corner of Clinton and Rivington streets, police said. One of the thugs, who was carrying a gun, demanded money. DuFresne's fiancé, Jeffrey Sparks, 28, not seeing the mugger had a gun and not taking the request seriously, tried to push past the man.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
"...you are prolly right in that her lefty beliefs and reaction to the shooter led to her death."
Normally, I might be offended by the tenor of this comment but I think at the heart of it you may be right. Liberal altruism sometimes clouds practical realism.
Its Brooklyn at 3am. Its dark and there are two couples. The boyfriends do not look like construction workers and the girls are way too slim. It also seems from the description that the men are walking ahead of the women and when danger starts, the men try to keep walking. I may be wrong but that seems odd. Overall, they look like easy marks. Ego and emotion ride high on the part of the amateur stick up team and incredulity, self involvement and maybe alchohol seem to cloud the judgement of the two couples.
The questions that come to mind are many. Why party in Brooklyn til 3am? Why walk the streets of Brooklyn at 3am? Why not arrange for a cab or car service (car service is the number one means of transportation by many Brooklynites). Why argue with muggers? Why are the men ahead of the women? Why push past the assailants? Why challenge them after the violence begins?
This tragedy is really the sum of many errors in judgement on both sides. When you live in a big city, the wallet is replacable. When you are pistol whipped, it helps to tell those around you that the attacker has a gun. That might aid in their decision making process. The question by the girl was tantamount to saying, "Please, blow me away."
Its sad because the worst might have been avoided. Still, it almost makes you cry when you think of girls in high schools all over the Midwest who dream of going to the big city to learn to be an actress. This one followed her dream and became a rape and murder victim as a result. I hope her family has a strong faith as they try to sort out the futility of all this. Prayers all around on this one...
Some media source actually mentioned the race of the perps! Usually it's kept a big secret.
I don't think anyone is blaming the victim for the crime itself, but they are saying that she had a hand in her own death by showing a lack of common sense. It is a fine distinction, but one worth noting.
And half the time he'll shoot you anyway.
I wonder if there might be a law firm out there that would file a class action suit against the City of New York on behalf of all citizens who were killed or seriously injured because they were law abiding, unarmed and thus unable to defend themselves.
No, I guess the standard of proof would have to include a denied application for a permit to carry; probably few of the victims have even applied.
NYC residents need to get their denied applications on file ASAP for recourse against the city if the worst happens. I guess that goes for any other similar hellhole as well.
I must disagree. When I had my LEGAL concealed carry in NYC, when I was in potentially bad situations I had my Walther PPKs in my hand in my coat pocket.
This totally depends on the type of animal. It does go for bears and dogs - direct eye contact is seen as a threat. However for wild cats (cougars here, lions and tigers etc elsewhere) it is essential to maintain direct eye contact.
It wasn't Brooklyn, it was the lower east side. The place has been taken over more or less by hipster bars like Max Fish, etc. etc. However, the projects are just a few blocks away and those are Blood territory.
You know they are gonna say that its because of racism and turn it around and say that these white people deserved to be killed. Round up a jury of mostly blacks feed them the racist propaganda and you know theyll come back and find the guy not guilty while they raise their hand in the black power sign. Sound familiar - think OJ.
"Blame" is too strong a word for the victim; however, she was not smart and could still be alive today if she just shut up. The perp should die for his crime.
I have had some on this forum that completely missed the sarcasm when it comes to the availability of guns to the criminal, in spite of the myriad of laws.
My knee jerked and it sometimes hits the keyboard when it does.
But I can't help but wonder, how did you ever get a permit in the first place?
It took a Cabinet level intervention for myself and some associates to be authorized concealed carry in an official position during the early '80s, in spite of several over-riding STATE laws that actually trumped what is in effect, a simple ordinance within the city limits.
New York City is...well, shall we say unique?
I'm glad I just don't have to be there.
It wasn't in Brooklyn, it was the lower East side. A changing neighborhood- gentrification in progress. But at 3:00 a.m. this coulda happened in front of Gracie mansion.
Sad the girl was killed by a lowlife scumbag
The murder took place in Manhattan on the Lower East Side, not Brooklyn. The victim lived in Brooklyn. She actually lived in a safe neighborhood Greenpoint. But she chose to party on the Lower East Side which is full of projects and public housing, and is a hunting ground for thugs looking to rob drunk white liberals.
I live in a small city (70,000) in the last 10 years there has been one stranger on stranger murder, so I really feel no need for a weapon.
If I lived in LA, NY or crime infested zone, I would carry a gun with me permit or no permit. I think that is almost a no brainer. Why would you ever allow yourself to be put in the position of a victim, if you could avoid it.
I would much prefer the police protect me from the criminal element. Since they can not and the political establishment chooses not to, then unfortunately I have to take responsibility for my own protection.
I am mystified why anyone in a large metropolitan area ever leaves the house without a weapon.
I think there is a lot of wisdom in the old line "Better to be convicted by 12 than carried by 6"
I'm sorry for this lady. Whatever she did or did not do in life, she certainly didn't deserve to be murdered.
That disclaimer aside, however, I will note this: She didn't extend that same consideration to unborn children -- and made that VERY PUBLIC on her webpage.
(Before anyone flames me for daring to say that, consider this: What would FReepers say if, God forbid, the "beautiful" actress Jane Fonda were murdered? I don't think our comments about her would be all sweetness and light, despite our condemnation of murder.)
I suspect this woman was suffering from the liberal delusion that simply because she was liberal, she was somehow immune from crime.
I've known people like this: They think that by being hip and therefore recognizably liberal, the muggers will notice those wonderful qualities and thus not attack them.
Usually this delusion dissipates after the first mugging. Sadly, in this case, perhaps her first mugging was also her last.
Well, it probably made you feel better, but could have just as easily gotten you killed. Unless you shoot someone and kill them instantly (a pretty neat trick) then there's a good chance that either they or their partner will start shooting back.
I agree
You must engage them in conversation, tell them of your kids, your hopes, that you are human
If you are in a situation that is going to possibly get you killed, be kind, it makes the person who is the enemy think, act kind in return...sort of.
MAKE them see you are human, not some screaming banshee.
let them hear of your kids, your sick mom.
then, when you have the opening, kill them.
My mother in law was killed while hanging on tightly to her purse. In a church at the top of a 17 marble stairs. She died while in surgery for a broken leg from heart problems. What a tragedy. Dang, just give them the $$. In her case she had maybe $100 on her.
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