The unarmed thug was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He depended on the armed thug to do the dirty work and he got what he deserved. Never bring a knife to a gunfight or in this case, never go unarmed to a gunfight. Dead lasts a long time either way.
More appropriately, never go into a gunfight with an armed robber, or else everyone will assume you are also armed.