Hmm, their vehicle was a van too. I wonder how many carjackers choose to steal vans rather than cars? I guess it depends on what the carjacker needed...
I'm trying to give Cobb the benefit of the doubt here, but my brain is really struggling with this one.
I did not realize it was a van! Much less likely for the carjacker theory to be true, IMO. Just think... you want to 'jack a vehicle, if you choose a van there is no telling how many people are in it. I know you can't see thru the rear side windows of my van at night unless the rear inside lights are on. Also, if there were children in carseats it would be logical for one of the adults to stay out in the van with the kids rather than drag them all inside.
Years ago, there was a significant period of time in our marraige during which my cop-husband did not want to be married and didn't give a flip about my personal safety. Coincidentally, he is also younger than I am, by a little more than 8 years. I've no doubt that he would have chosen a pharmacy in a dangerous neighborhood and left me in the car, pregnant belly and all, the same way one might leave their old car on the street with the keys dangling from the ignition, hoping someone would steal it in order to collect the insurance for a nice downpayment on a new car.
It is truly by God's grace that we both weathered thru that awful time in our marraige. I mention this both to witness that I've seen the depths to which a marraige can disentigrate, and that while it did not culminate in murder for me, I can see how easily it could end in murder for others.
Of all people, a cop knows that a locked vehicle is no deterrent to a criminal. Windows can easily be "popped" in a second, without much noise. Definitely no need to shoot the window out. I do not believe that a cop would consider a locked vehicle to be sufficient protection from harm. IMO, He would not have left anything of value in there and in plain sight , like his gun or a wallet. Why did he leave his wife?
Also, it seems the shooting happened relatively soon after he went inside. Wouldn't most criminals expect that if he left the vehicle running, he intended to be right back out? If so, then why steal a cop's car...you know they carry a gun even off duty? Cop could have run back out, shooting at the fleeing van.
Susan