Psychology of robbery?

[Anonymous]

I was thinking about the recent CUA murder (where a man from Kentucky was shot by a DC man).

I read the court documents and see that the decedent and suspect are passed by a third man while standing outside the CUA Metro. The suspect asks the third man for something, but third man keeps walking. The decedent had already stopped by that point and was standing there.

Someone who knows the suspect said their guess is that the suspect thought the decedent looked like an easy target. The decedent wore a backpack and may have appeared uncertain. In the videos the decedent walks into and out of the metro, which conveyed uncertainty to me where as the third man appeared to walk quickly onward and deeper into CUA campus.

As far as maintaining our own safety, is it best to walk fast and look like a problem (not an easy target) and does that really reduce the chances of being robbed?

[Anonymous]

There is research suggesting that criminals choose victims based on physical attributes, apparent confidence or lack thereof, mode of movement and similar factors. Criminals don’t want to get hurt. They like to pick on smaller, weaker victims, but a small, confident person who looks like they could be trouble is less likely to be assaulted than a larger person who is distracted, disorganized and non assertive.

It was not the CUA victim’s fault that he was targeted, but he should never have engaged with the killer or gone anywhere with him. He apparently did fight back eventually but there was no one around to help at that point.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for sharing the research. Yes, I agree it’s not the victim’s fault. I recall advice about not going to a second place with someone and I can see why that’s advised.

OP

[Anonymous]

All of that is true, also tourists are targeted more often. But that wasn't a typical robbery either. Armed robbers don't spend 25 minutes with the victim walking and sitting on the bench together. It's hard to tell how to behave with someone who's mentally ill or/and on drugs.

[Anonymous]

I’ve always wondered this. Several years ago I was walking a few blocks from a metro station to a hotel late at night - after midnight due to my flight getting in very late. Lots of streetlights but no people. I was a woman alone and in retrospect I should have just booked a taxi (this was pre-Uber). A man approached me from the other direction and I could tell he was going to start to talk to me. I stood as tall as I could, strided with purpose, and looked him in the face with a “don’t [mess] with me look.” He was like “oh - sorry!”

I mean who knows what he was going to ask (directions? Money?) and whether he then just realized yeah women don’t like to be approached alone at night?

It’s happened several times in my neighborhood too - even early evening but darker here no streetlights. If I hear someone behind me I’ll turn around to look at them or strongly step to the side. But I always figure these men aren’t planning on attacking me anyway. Not sure it makes a difference. (Other than making them feel bad for just being out on a walk near a female.)

[Anonymous]

I've been wondering about this case. Where are the court documents? Does it clarify why they were together so long?