Why didn't anyone help the victim on the greyhound bus killing in Manitoba?

Question

I think there is a very simple solution Canada greyhound should consider. The Bus Driver should have a thing of pepper spray and if there's an attacker,

you spray the attacker to temporarily knock him out and then phone the police. That's the safest way to handle future greyhound bus incidents. The emergency pepper spray

Additional Details

There are a lot of prevention tips though. First off, why was he in possession of a knife? If passengers must store all their possessions in the overhead or under the bus, then to get a knife, he would have to get out of his seat and that would draw attention.

So simply make sure passengers have no harmful objects in possession while seated could be a preventive tip.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I don't know but I have to say that anytime I have travelled by bus, I thought I was safe - unsafe never entered my head - so I didn't and still do not, travel prepared to fight off violent and probably sick man. And remember that everyone has said that there was no indication that there was any problem. What I heard on the news and have read on the Internet news is that the young victim was probably dead before anyone realized anything was happening.

Had there been a loud argument prior to the stabbing, pepper spray may have helped but as one answerer has already pointed out, the driver would have to be aware that trouble was brewing, then pull the bus over and get the pepper spray, then get up and go to the back of the bus, aim it and spray it. If this happened as the witnesses say it did, and I have at this time no reason to believe otherwise, the victim was already dead or dying.

Could YOU disarm a man wildly swinging a hunting knife in the small confines of a moving Greyhound bus? Probably not! Next day quarterbacking can be a very dangerous pastime when murder is involved. Those who question the behaviour of the other passengers is doing them a huge disservice and possibly damaging their reputations. I have no doubt that if any of the passengers had been able to help, they would have. These people have been traumatized enough already without anyone who was not there adding to it.

Point your finger at the killer. But I think it is pretty low, a short day after the attack to be pointing it at the other travellers on the bus.

Edit: Perhaps screening such as there is at airports would have saved the day. But then how long before you need that same sort of screening just to get on a city bus to go to work?
I wasn't there and I don't know where he had the knife. I am going to guess in his boot. When someone is intent on doing something like this about the only way a third party can stop it is if and when they have prior knowledge. So, does this mean body searches are in order? I hope not. We will never be able to go anywhere if that keeps up. Some things in life are one time events and are not preventable except by the person who carries them out or God Himself. I hope that this is one of those things.

Source(s):

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/bus_b…

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

I think we are still safe to ride the bus and this is as rare as getting struck by lightning. Also if you're real paranoid, exchange a few words with the person sitting next to you and if the person is too eerily quiet, ask to switch seats.

Answer 2

All the ppl on that bus.. you'd think someone would have made an attempt.. very sad really. I have to agree with your pepper spray idea..I think they should be armed with something in case something happens..even a tazer if necessary. Such a sad tragic thing.. and the dude had a knife..wasn't like it was a gun someone should have tried to help that poor kid... may he r.i.p.

Answer 3

The guy was stabbed before anyone else knew what was going on. Do you really think the driver having pepper spray would have prevented it?

Answer 4

By the time anyone knew what was going on, the attack was in full swing. Even if the bus driver had had pepper spray, by the time he noticed it, pulled over, parked, and got to the back of the bus, it would have been too late.

Answer 5

You need to remember that this was a night trip and most of the people would have been sleeping (as was the victim) or listening to music etc. I don't know where he was stabbed first but it was likely too late before anyone even knew what was happening.

Also, it's called survival. They didn't want to step in because they were protecting themselves. Remember they are in a very small space with a man that was certainly not thinking clearly.

Answer 6

Easy for everyone to sit at their computer and find fault with the passengers of this bus. By the time anyone had any clue of what was really happening it was too late. Pepper spray! what could pepper spray do if the driver had it somewhere,(locked safely away no doubt as the law would insist on) he would have to realize what was going on, drive off of the road, stop the bus and head down the aisle of the bus and spray the killer, hoping of course that the killer would collapse from the spray...of course the victim would be dead by now About the only way that this sort of thing could have been prevented is for the same sort of rules and searches in the bus and train stations that the air ports now have. There was no time for anyone to help the victim in this instance, he was dead before anyone knew what was going on.

Answer 7

It is easy to say this or that,maybe's,could of's,should of's or would of's.
The fact is none of us were there and in that position.
It sometimes is easy to sit back when we are in our own reality and safe enviorment and say this.
Just imagine how frightening it must have been for all aboard.
Let's not cast judgement or say well if it was me.
All we can do is give our condolences to his family friends and loved ones in their time of grief.
I do however agree that maybe the saftey screening should be re-evaluated.
God Bless