Here’s why we practice situational awareness and carry tools to defend ourselves

-f6ea7052d7b8396c — Funeral services are held this morning for Dustin Friedland, the Hoboken attorney shot and killed Sunday night by carjackers seeking his Range Rover at the Mall at Short Hills in Millburn. The service is at Beth Am Shalom in Lakewood. The 30-year-old was shot and killed after an evening of holiday shopping with his wife as he was getting into the Range Rover, which was in a parking deck outside the mall. The couple were approached by two men at about 9 p.m. Sunday, acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray has said. A struggle ensued and Friedland was shot once in the head at close range. Wednesday December, 18, 2013 (Patti Sapone/The Star-Ledger) Photo and caption by Star-Ledger.

Why do wise and prudent individuals practice situational awareness of their surroundings and carry the tools with which to protect themselves and their families from violent attack?

So they don’t fall victim to amoral, asocial scumbags who think it’s okay to kill someone to steal their car and take it for a short joyride.

Short Hills mall shooting update: 4 men arrested, identified in connection with deadly carjacking

NEWARK (WABC) — Four men are in custody in connection with last week’s deadly carjacking at the Mall at Short Hills in New Jersey.

The four have been charged with murder, felony murder, carjacking, conspiracy, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose. They are being held on $2 million bail each.

The suspects have been identified as 29-year-old Hanif Thompson, of Irvington; 31-year-old Karif Ford, of Newark; 32-year-old Basim Henry, of Newark; and 33-year-old Kevin Roberts, of Newark.

Dustin Friedland, a 30-year old lawyer from Hoboken, was shot in the head Sunday night inside the mall’s parking garage.

Authorities found his SUV the next day about ten miles away in Newark.

Police say Friedland had just opened the passenger door for his wife and was about to get in the driver’s side when he was approached by two men and shot. Witnesses described hearing three gunshots.

Of course, WABC didn’t publish photos of those arrested. We got them from the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

From left: Karif Ford, Kevin Roberts, Hanif Thompson and Basim Henry. Photos courtesy of the… wait for it… New Jersey Department of Corrections.

The Star-Ledger also included this tidbit:

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said the arrests were the result of “extraordinary police work” that came in the wake of a state-federal task force to battle carjackings in Essex County, which has the highest number of such crimes in New Jersey.

“We have an epidemic of carjackings here,” Fishman said. “You shouldn’t have to worry that wherever you go, someone will put a gun to your head and take your car.”

New Jersey is a “may issue” state where it is especially difficult for residents of its bigger cities to get a carry permit.

Get training. Learn how to avoid becoming the victim of a violent attack and should it occur anyway, learn how to employ your safety rescue tool safely and effectively.

Not only might you be saving your own life, but you would also be saving your family and loved ones from a loss as well.