A crazed carjacker in California dragged an Military vet and beloved grandfather a half-mile to his demise after rushing off within the 79-year-old’s automobile, police mentioned.
James “Jim” Norman was vacuuming out the again of his Chevrolet Trailblazer at an ARCO fuel station in Norco at round 12:30 p.m. Monday when Ryan Hewitt, 29, jumped into the entrance seat, in line with cops.
Hewitt sped away with Norman desperately hanging onto the automobile’s backseat, police mentioned.
Witnesses who noticed the carjacking going down known as police.
“The caller reported witnessing a male entering the driver seat of a vehicle and driving away with the vehicle owner partially inside the rear seat,” police officers mentioned.
Norman was finally thrown from the automobile, in line with cops.
Investigators discovered his crumpled physique a half-mile from the fuel station and only a few miles from his dwelling. Paramedics rushed the septuagenarian to a close-by hospital however his accidents had been too extreme. He was pronounced lifeless on the hospital.
“I just hope he went quickly and I’m grateful for the people — and I hope to meet them — that surrounded him and protected his body so he wasn’t just out in the middle of the road,” Norman’s daughter, Nicole Lauritsen, advised 7 ABC Eyewitness Information.
Lauritsen additionally advised the station that her father had plans to satisfy for a meal. She mentioned she thinks the killer knew her father was clinging on for his life, however panicked and saved driving.
“He was too old and frail to get out before the door slammed on him,” she mentioned. “He knew my dad was hanging, but just panicked and kept going until he fell out of the car.”
Her father wore listening to aids, however wasn’t sporting them on the time, so he most likely didn’t even discover when the carjacker jumped into the driving force’s seat, Lauritsen advised KCAL Information.
“He didn’t have his hearing aids in, so I’m guessing he didn’t hear with the vacuum on and all of a sudden his car’s backing up,” she mentioned.
Investigators known as Lauritsen and requested her if she had any solution to observe her father’s telephone. She mentioned that she may observe his automobile, since she had positioned an AirTag on it to assist preserve observe of him, in line with KCAL.
Cops discovered Norman’s automobile parked and unoccupied.
Shortly after, they discovered and arrested Hewitt. He was charged with carjacking and homicide, police mentioned.
Norman lived a modest life, however an adventurous one, in line with a GoFundMe web page set as much as assist pay for his funeral and burial prices.
He served within the Military and labored a number of jobs in his life, together with building, car transport and “even took to the skies as a pilot.”
“His passion for travel for work and exploration led him to many corners of the United States,” in line with the GoFundMe web page. “Whether building something with his hands or sharing tales from the road, Jim brought energy and authenticity to everything he did.”
