Lubbock: Stranded driver shoots at man who tried to help him

[seamusTX]

On a country road outside Lubbock Friday afternoon, a driver's vehicle broke down. Another driver stopped and offered to help him. The stranded motorist reportedly asked the would-be helper to wait, went to his vehicle, retrieved two pistols, and fired eight at shots at the other man's car.

The victim was able to drive away and was not injured.

Police arrested a 39-year-old male Childress resident minutes later.

No motive is known.

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What do they say? No good deed goes unpunished.

- Jim

[chartreuse]

Very odd indeed!

Incidentally, we discussed breaking down on a deserted road at night in my CHL class, from the point of view of both the strandee and the good samaritan. The consensus was that situational awareness and clear verbal communication were the keys to preventing a situation getting to the point where unpleasantness might occur.

[seamusTX]

It's not unheard-of for stranded motorists to carjack people who tried to help them. It's made me think twice about stopping to help anyone but a lone woman or elderly person.

This case is inexplicable, given the information in this one news story.

- Jim

[cougartex]

Wow, makes you think twice about helping people.

[suthdj]

Kind of sad, my wife's car was broke down along side a very busy road I was parked behind her with my flashers going, not a single person even bothered to ask if all was ok. We got 2 honks and one vulgar comment regarding my lacking level of intelligence and the letter after "E" word.

[WestTexan]

It's messed up when you try to help someone and they throw lead at you.

I used to stop and help when someone was stranded but since I've got kids now, I am more and more reluctant to help anyone for this very reason.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

One of the reasons that I got my CHL is because
I help stranded motorists on a regular basis, and
by packing 24/7 I now am capable of defending
myself should I ever happen upon the wrong people.

Prior to getting my CHL I had stopped helping people
at night. I would call 911 so that someone with a gun
on their hip and strobes on their vehicle would be
dispatched to see what was up.

Now I've got a gun on my hip and strobes on my vehicle,
so I've cut out a step in the "help" process.

People are so grateful for a good floor jack and the strobes
that keep them from getting hit if they are changing a tire.

SIA

[Kiowa Scout]

A friend of mine lives in Lubbock. He said that he had heard a suicide note was found in the vehicle. He had also seen the news report, the driver was thankful that he had not taken his five year old along with him on that trip because the bullets went right over his head and shoulder into the rear seat.

My friend asked me what I would have done had it been me and my girls were with me.

I told him that I would have use my truck to run him over and stayed tall in the seat to protect my girls from bullets flying toward them. I believe that moving toward the assailant would have caught him off guard because of the size of my truck. I drive a one ton crewcab 4X4 with a full replacement bumper and grill guard.

What would ya'll have done?

[KD5NRH]

http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=12140341" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good Samaritan speaks out after being shot at multiple times
Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:54 PM
By Katie Bauer

LORENZO, TX (KCBD) - A Lorenzo man says he is just happy to be alive. The Lubbock County Sheriff's Office says 39-year-old Oran Starkey fired multiple shots at 27-year-old Matthew Cisneros Friday afternoon, but the victim says he was just trying to help a stranded motorist.

Cisneros says he is still in shock this whole thing happened, he never dreamed that asking a man if he needed help, would end in his attempted murder.

On Friday afternoon, Cisneros was driving from Lorenzo to Lubbock when he noticed a car stopped on the side of Highway 62/82. "I came back and he was still there so I decided I would stop and help," said Cisneros.

As any Good Samaritan would do, Cisneros asked the man if he needed help, but 39-year-old Oran Starkey appeared to be talking to someone else in the car. "I didn't see anybody, so I just assumed he was a little off," said Cisneros.

Cisneros headed back to his car to take off, but Starkey called out to him. "I turned around to go to the car, and he well hold on, why don't you go wait in the car, let me make a phone call and I'll get you to give me a ride somewhere, and I was like ok, no problem," said Cisneros.

Cisneros was sitting in his car when the unthinkable happened. "He turned around, reached in his car, pulled out two handguns pointed them at me and started shooting. The first shot went off and it came through the windshield and I felt it go over my shoulder, and I ducked over to the other side and right when I ducked over to the passenger side over my shifter, I felt that second bullet go over my head," said Cisneros.

Cisneros says he then threw his car in reverse and tried to get away. He pulled into the apple orchard's parking lot, where he called 911.

Starkey stayed by his car, until an Idalou Police Officer took him into custody. According to the Idalou Police report, a suicide note was later found in Starkey's car.

"I'm just glad to be here," said Cisneros. And without a scratch on him.

Cisneros's car is now evidence of a near death experience. The Lubbock County Sheriff's Office says eight shell casings where found at the scene. "You look at my car, and it's a miracle God was looking after me," said Cisneros.

But not even this traumatic incident can stop this Good Samartian from offering help to a stranded motorist again. "I probably will, just me being who I am, but I'll probably just be a little more cautious next time, I guess," said Cisneros.

Cisneros is married and the father of five children, and says one Friday afternoon one of his daughters almost took that trip with him. The family says they are so relieved he is alive.

Starkey remains in the Lubbock County Jail for attempted murder.

[chabouk]

Sounds like he intended suicide by cop, but no cops stopped to check on him.