The Good Samaritan

A little over a week ago, MSN ran this story of a man who defended a stranger from a group of would-be robbers and is being hailed as a Good Samaritan, Cops: Good Samaritan stabs would-be robber who targeted wheelchair user.

A would-be robber was hospitalized after a Good Samaritan stabbed the teen as he targeted a man in a wheelchair, according to investigators.

Police say three youths attempted to rob the 49-year-old victim at the intersection of 29th Street and Dauphin Street at 5:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

As they attacked, a Good Samaritan intervened, police said.

The 15-year-old suspect was stabbed in the chest while the two other suspects fled.  The injured teen was taken to Hahnermann Hospital where he was listed in stable condition.

Police were still searching for the two other teen suspects late Tuesday.

Comparing this story to Sarna's case raised many questions.  Instead of teenagers, what if the Good Samaritan witnessed grown men attempted to rob a stranger?  What if there were at least 5 instead of 3?    What if the Good Samaritan witnessed an actual assault rather than an attempted robbery?  What if, instead of running, they turned on the Good Samaritan when he tried to intervene?  What if the Good Samaritan had to defend himself after trying to defend this stranger?

Upon further investigation of this story, I discovered more articles with more information including the following story on myfoxphilly, Police: Teen Suspect Stabbed During Attempted Robbery.

Philadelphia Police say a man who attempted to stop a robbery Tuesday night ended up becoming the victim and stabbed a 15-year-old suspect in self-defense.

According to police, three teenagers attempted to rob a man in a wheelchair in the area of 29th and Dauphin.  

Police say as the three suspects harassed the wheelchair bound man, another man who happened to be walking by intervened.

The suspects then turned on the 49-year-old man, according to police.

Police say that's when the man pulled a knife and stabbed one of the teens, a 15-year-old, in the upper chest in self-defense.

The teenager was taken to Hahneman Hospital, where he is listed in stable condition.

Police say they are looking for the other two suspects.

So now we see self-defense appear in this story which adds more questions when comparing this story to Sarna's.  Where is the line between Good Samaritan and attempted murderer?  What makes the men who assaulted Sarna and assaulted the stranger in the vehicle the victims instead of what they really are, the assailants?  What makes Sarna the attacker when he was clearly defending himself, when the stranger Sarna was trying to help backs Sarna's side of the story, and when the group of men either claim they don't remember what happened or are pointing fingers at each other and telling inconsistent stories?  Why hasn't this group of men - who ran around downtown San Luis Obispo drunk, harassing and assaulting individuals - been charged with any crimes from that night?

I strongly encourage anyone reading this to call San Luis Obispo District Attorney Gerald Shea at 805-781-5800 and ask for answers to any of these questions.