Ryan Carson, a 32-year-old activist and poet in New York City, was attacked by a deranged teenager with a knife in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. This happened directly in front of his girlfriend, although she was unharmed. The attacker had a knife and took Carson’s life right there on the street. The story has garnered quite a bit of attention on social media. People point out that Carson was a community activist and may have championed programs that allow violent and dangerous criminals out on the street. His girlfriend was allegedly on the same page as him. A picture of her wearing a t-shirt with anti-police rhetoric has surfaced.
The story of the final moments of Ryan Carson’s life should not be about ridicule aimed in his direction. It should be about situational awareness and self-defense. Carson should not be gone and there are some things he could have done to protect himself and his girlfriend. Preventative measures to avoid the situation entirely were totally possible.
The first thing to understand is that this attack happened at about 4:00 a.m. This is entirely too late to be outside in a dangerous environment without any sort of weapon. Then, there is the issue of Ryan Carson being drunk. He had just come from a wedding in Long Island with his girlfriend. The common sense thing to do would have been to stay near the wedding in a hotel room or go directly back home afterward. It is not clear why they were just hanging around outside at this time of night. The last thing of note is that Carson did not identify the guy wearing all black with a hoodie at 4 a.m. as a threat. That mistake may have cost him his life.
SOURCES:
Ryan Carson, social justice advocate, stabbed to death in Crown Heights – CBS New York
Suspect identified in deadly stabbing of beloved Brooklyn activist Ryan Carson – ABC7 New York
Poet killed in post-wedding stroll with girlfriend in crazed knife attack: video | Fox News
Footage shows Brooklyn advocate’s stabbing death in Bed-Stuy attack; NYPD seeks this suspect
Video shows activist, poet being fatally stabbed in front of girlfriend in NYC
