There is little more terrifying for a mother than facing a violent carjacking attempt with her small children in the vehicle. It is a sudden and horrific explosion of fear, and the only hope most of the time is to be rescued by an armed bystander courageous enough to intervene.

That’s exactly what happened Sunday afternoon in Pompano Beach, Florida. 

The Broward County Sheriff’s Department responded to the violent incident just before 5 p.m., and emergency personnel found the aftermath of a shocking confrontation when they arrived.

A young mother was parked at a gas station south of Boca Raton when, according to multiple witness accounts, 37-year-old Brian Semil allegedly attempted to enter her car and take it with her and her small children inside.

However, three bystanders immediately intervened, and one shot the suspect as he allegedly accosted the family.

Responding officers found Semil suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to Broward Health North and pronounced dead there.

The BSO Homicide and Crime Scene units reported that all three males who stepped up remained at the gas station and cooperated with investigators. A probe is being conducted to determine the exact circumstances of the shooting, though charges against the Good Samaritans are doubtful, given the apparent facts of the case. 

The Broward County State Attorney’s Office will review their findings and decide.

The suspect’s mother, Selinda Crawley, told WPLG that she rejected the eyewitness accounts that her son attempted to carjack the family. “That is not true. That’s something y’all made up to cover the act of this guy murdering my son. That’s not a true story.”

It is very fortunate for the young mother, as she was apparently unarmed, that bystanders were willing to put their lives on the line to protect her and her family. Carjacking is a terrible crime, and those who would terrorize innocent victims put themselves at risk of intervention by a good guy with a gun.

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