First, it's sad the victim lost his life over something so senseless such as cookie theft.
However, there are a lot of do's and don't's to go around here.
-While the thieves should not have stolen anything from the merchant, the markup on those cookies was likely 50%. I understand why they attempted the cookie theft. The store was attempting to rob them first. Fair game.
-The thieves should be arrested and jailed for a long time, however, the shooter needs the death penalty because he was dumb enough to apparently drop his identification at the scene of a cookie caper. Also, he missed an opportunity to become a part of another unsolved murder case in the city. Shame on him!
-The victim shouldn't have chased down the thieves for a bag of cookies that probably hadn't sold for months because of that 50% markup. The cookies were likely stale with weevils. The victim should have asked the thieves if they needed some milk with the cookies - and by the way - the milk would have been marked up 50% too.
The victim and clerk should have:
#1. Let the cookie monsters leave. Gotten physical and car descriptions of the thieves. Called the Police.
#2. Let the monsters have the cookies, but be ready for their thieving asses the next time.
#3. Had guns of their own for security and theft prevention.
#4. Realized that St. Louis is tougher than Palestine.
#5. Realized why foreigners don't move to St. Louis.
#6. Never trusted a neighborhood full of cookie monsters.
In this case:
Cookie Monsters: 2 Good Guys: 0
Note: This is St. Louis crime satire.
