Store Clerk Murdered; Customers Keep Shopping

[RamboLiberal]

A 26-year-old convenience store clerk is shot and killed in broad daylight in Gary, Indiana. Police say witnesses stood by and did nothing. CBS 2's Pamela Jones shows us critical clues that may help crack the case.

Police say one of the men bursting into the clerk's booth at this convenience store is about to commit murder. In the video on the left side of the screen, you can see a man in red run up an aisle and kick in the door to the booth. Within seconds, the clerk, Gurjeet Singh, is shot in the neck.

-----

Police say there were several customers walking around the store after the crime. But only one called 9-1-1 for help.

When asked what he finds most disturbing about the surveillance footage, Titus said, "The fact that people went in and out of the store and didn't call police. There is a man laying there. Nobody thinks to dial 9-1-1 or check to see if he's okay or anything."

Police want to talk to people who saw the four men at this mini-mart on 15th and Grant just before 5:20 p.m. Sunday.

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/Convenience.Store.Clerk.2.1047612.html

[DS1]

1. But I've heard such good things about Gary, Indiana

:rofl:

[newfie11]

2. It's like the zebra herd syndrome

OOPs George the zebra got eaten by the lion , Oh well we (the herd) will go on grazing since the lion is not after us.

[omega minimo]

24. That's the Reaganism Syndrome

"I got me mine, get outta my way" :puke:

[WI_DEM]

3. Gary, Indiana is getting too used to the violence or something.

[MercutioATC]

5. Ever SEEN Gary, IN?

It's an industrial wasteland. Drive past it at night and it looks like an impressionistic vision of Hell with all of the refineries spouting flames and smoke.

[WonderGrunion]

12. They used Gary, IN on an episode of "Life After People"

To show what happens to high-rises after decades of abandonment.

[Mari333]

15. sigh. I was born in Gary in 1951

before white flight. before the jobs left.
used to go shopping downtown at Polk Brothers with my mom.
the 1950's towns are a thing of the past in the rust belt.

[Octafish]

17. Great people from Gary.

One of the best was John Putz, USMC. I knew his brother, who is one of the best.

You're the same way, Mari333.

[Mari333]

19. ..

:hug:

[Common Sense Party]

4. I'm assuming the other shoppers paid for their purchases.

:sarcasm:

[madeline_con]

6. Police asked that shoppers' identities not be revealed. I say show their faces!

Maybe one of them will be shamed into providing some information.

OTOH, I live in a relatively violent neighborhood. I can understand not talking. spell edit

[ieoeja]

7. "But only one called 9-1-1 for help."

If I witness the shooting, and I see/hear *you* calling 911 ... why would I also call 911? Wouldn't I be more likely to cause confusion than help?

In fact, when I've heard of these things happening in the past, followup interviews always find that people assume someone else is taking care of it, and that anything they do will only get in the way.

For which reason the rules are:

1. Never assume someone else is doing something.
2. Do not ask a crowd of people to call 911. Point to one person in the crowd and say, "you, call 911."

[armyowalgreens]

11. There are those people who assume someone else is "taking care of it"

And there are those who are actually taking care of it.

I think the first group has a personality flaw.

[ieoeja]

8. "Store Clerk Murdered; Customer immediately calls 911" (probable headline were customers White)

[donco6]

16. Exactly. n/t

[eridani]

9. Good point. There are actually studies proving that

--if a single person is a witness to an accident, they almost always call for help. The probability of anyone calling for help decreases according to the number of people you add to the scene.

[kojak]

10. Diffusion of responsibility

The smaller the group, the greater sense of responsibility each person has to act. The more people, the responsibility to act gets diffused to the point no one acts as each person expects the other to take responsibility to act. Nonetheless, to do nothing while someone is lying on the ground bleeding to death just shows the indifference people have nowadays.

[Control-Z]

13. There have been car accidents

on the road in front of my home no less than once a year since I've lived here. From inside my condo I usually always first hear the screeching of tires, and have learned to then listen for evidence of the crash that will probably follow. Sometimes there is no collision. More often than not, though, there is. It can be a single car/driver who runs into a telephone pole, or up onto a front yard. Or it might be a two or three car incident. It can be as small as a fender bender. Or, as was the case just two weeks ago, it can be a horrifying crash with critical injuries and fatalities.

It has become somewhat of a drill for me over the years. If the impact is directly in front of my house (which I can tell by the sounds), I will run directly out to the street with my cell phone. Otherwise, I grab my phone and run (upstairs) to my son's bedroom where I can get a clear view of the street in both directions.

I don't always call 911 or even go out to help every time. It depends on the severity of the accident, the number of people already gathered and helping, and whether or not I hear emergency vehicles (which can happen quickly with the fire station a block and a half away).

If I hear emergency vehicles, I know there is no need to call. If the involved parties are getting out of their cars, walking around, talking, I will go out to offer my phone and help. If there's already a large number of people helping (from the other homes that face the street, and/or from witnesses) I may or may not run down to help, or even call. It just depends. At times, more people just get in the way, cause confusion, and even make matters worse.

But of course, if the accident is catastrophic I'll call 911 no matter what. Sometimes the sound of the crash is so horrifyingly bad, I know to call even before I've looked.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I'll always do what I can to help, but sometimes the best help I can give is standing back. Sometimes stepping up, calling for help, and getting involved is counterproductive. And I can't help but wonder how often the lack of involvement by others is due to those same kind of judgments/assessments that I've had to make.

[Pool Hall Ace]

14. I can understand being frozen with fear and not doing anything, but

they kept shopping? :wtf:

[LisaL]

18. I watched the video. And it's hard to understand what was happening.

If the clerk was shot in his booth, how would the other shoppers realize what happened? Maybe they didn't know what happened.

[Recursion]

23. iPods

They really shut you into your own world.

[Odin2005]

20. Google the case of Kitty Giovanni.

:cry:

[edbermac]

21. I think you mean Kitty Genovese.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitty_Genovese

[Odin2005]

25. Doh, yep. My bad!

[jazzjunkysue]

22. People are so self-centered, they are programmed to continue their

endless quest for fulfillment through acquisition of things.

These people came out for beer and chips, and were not about to be delayed by some else's tragedy.

It's the me generation, and Gary Indiana is certainly not to blame.