Elderly veteran opens door for 20 year old asking for help, gets killed.

[Geosurface]

http://www.kaaltv.com/article/stories/S3309570.shtml?cat=10151

Minneapolis-

Devon Derrick Parker was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 69-year-old Thomas Sonnenberg.

Sonnenberg's wife told police she was home when Parker came to the door. She said he appeared to be frantic, paranoid and in some sort of distress. After her husband called police, she heard Parker ask him for a gun, knife, hat and gloves. She then heard a gunshot.
Parker came out of the kitchen and ordered the woman to the floor. He choked her with his hands and held a gun to her head, according to the complaint. She said the gun belonged to her husband, and that he always carried it on his hip.

I found this story really tragic because this guy ended up getting killed while being a good Samaritan and trying to help this kid. I also found it a relevant story to the numerous people here who expressed that they thought the guy in Detroit who shot the young woman who came to his door at 4am was completely off base to have come to the door armed.

I know, I know "see? the gun owner's own gun was taken and used to kill him!" but frankly I think this guy was insufficiently cynical and wary, and that was the main problem.

 

[Venix]

"Shot with own gun by stranger" is rare, but it does happen. If you're going to openly carry you need to be especially vigilant.

This seems like the opposite extreme of the "shot girl in face through door" guy. You shouldn't do that, but you also shouldn't allow a stranger into your home. In any case, it's a particularly sad story because he died while trying to help someone.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Hopefully this guy gets the prison treatment usually reserved for child rapists.

 

[pcgeek11]

I hope they kill him real slow. Oh and painfully.

 

[Victorian Gray]

You guys are having the wrong reaction. You should be ranting about 'urban thugs' or whatever the latest 'dog whistle' phrase is these days. That's what he's looking for.

 

[Victorian Gray]

Just for the heck of it, another 'good Samaritan' killer:

"Drummond, 47, who was a technical support supervisor for AT&T, spotted the stranded motorists and stopped to help. The men put a gun to his head and ordered him to drive his Dodge Intrepid west.


About 60 miles later, in Lafayette County, the men ordered Drummond off the road to a secluded area. Nicklasson recalled that he left Skillicorn and DeGraffenreid behind and walked Drummond to a field. He said he had intended to tie Drummond up to buy time for the trio to get away.

Instead, he ordered Drummond to kneel and cross his legs. He shot him twice in the head.

Drummond's remains were found eight days later."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...cklasson-executed-killing-Good-Samaritan.html

 

[Geosurface]

You guys are having the wrong reaction. You should be ranting about 'urban thugs' or whatever the latest 'dog whistle' phrase is these days. That's what he's looking for.

Actually, if it had been this guy who showed up acting paranoid at this old man's door...

... and ended up killing the 69 year old veteran and then attempting to strangle his wife, I would feel exactly the same way I do about this.

It would be tragic for exactly the same reason. Old guy who served his country and should have been able to live out the remainder of his days in peace, and his wife who should not have ever had to see her husband killed and then go through what she went through... all so that some much younger waste of oxygen, drain on society piece of crap who contributes nothing but trouble, could act on their own violent impulses and end up caught minutes later by police anyway.

It's just a senseless loss of life regardless of the races involved, but I'm not surprised that you felt the need to push that crap.

 

[himkhan]

This shooting and the Detroit example are two good ways of how to not reply to unknown visiters.

 

[Geosurface]

This shooting and the Detroit example are two good ways of how to not reply to unknown visiters.

Agreed. The way the guy in Detroit handled it was definitely not appropriate in any way. Of course, he seems to have claimed it was an accident so that complicates it a little bit. I don't think he decided to blow someone away just for knocking on his door. But regardless, he had an obligation when he chose to go to the door armed, not to end up shooting someone without a damned good reason. Loud banging on the door is not a good reason.

 

[Geosurface]

'urban thugs'

'dog whistle'

Btw, in case you aren't clear on this: the point of posting the killer's pictures along with the picture of the deceased, particularly in uniform, is to draw a contrast.

On the one hand you have a productive member of society who served his country.

On the other hand you have someone who is emblematic of much of what is wrong with America these days. The vapid, narcissistic, self-indulgent and senselessly violent youth we have far too many of these days. Reminds me of Clockwork Orange. These young people who just roam through our society inflicting pain for personal gain or amusement. Product of moral decline and a culture which no longer feels comfortable making value judgments on anything.

Clean cut serviceman, husband, father, and homeowner on one hand vs. drug-using, bird-flipping, hard ass posturing low life on the other. That is the contrast I was attempting to show. There are plenty of white kids who fit that profile just as well, and plenty of 69 year old black veterans who fit the other profile to a T.

 

[boomerang]

You guys are having the wrong reaction. You should be ranting about 'urban thugs' or whatever the latest 'dog whistle' phrase is these days. That's what he's looking for.

See that second picture from the left in the OP? Yeah.

 

[Newell Steamer]

I am sad to hear this vet was taken advantage of and murdered.

This could have been all avoided, if the following did not occur;

Sonnenberg allowed Parker to enter his home, and locked the door.

Do NOT let anyone into your home. Someone knocks on your door that you are not expecting, don't open.

I live in a big apartment building. When my buzzer hits, I don't open - especially if I am not expecting anyone. And, if there is a knock on the door, ask who it is and what do they want.

NEVER open the door.

 

[soulcougher73]

Just put hiim down like the dog he is. No need for mankind to worry about such scum.

 

[Orignal Earl]

Yep, since the beginning of time there have been cases of people getting attacked in their homes.
If there's a knock at my door in the middle of the night, my first thoughts are someone's in trouble or buddies have left the bar.
If I got a message one day from the OP and he was in town and wanted to come over for coffee. I'd probably go for it, but all my defenses would be up

 

[brycejones]

.

You really expect us to believe that isn't a selfie?

 

[norseamd]

so sad. should have never opened the door in the first place. prayers to all involved