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Suspect Arrested In Actress Killing

I was watching the Today show this morning and Ann Curry was interviewing the fiance of this woman, Nicole Dufresne, and was saddened by her story and what the fiance is going through. I thought I would look up the story, and I am surprised by the chain of events.

"NEW YORK (AP) -- -- A man was arrested Monday in the killing of an aspiring actress during a holdup on Manhattan's Lower East Side, a once-gritty neighborhood now known for its hip nightspots. Nicole duFresne, 28, of Brooklyn was shot during a crime spree by Rudy Fleming and some friends, police said. Witnesses told investigators one of the assailants grabbed for the purse of duFresne's friend and the actress said, "What are you going to do, shoot us?" One of the men then fired a shot." Resource: https://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/01/actress.killing.ap/

I also found this additional information: "...what was supposed to be a simple purse-snatching turned deadly when the 28-year-old actress refused to play the victim...A furious duFresne shoved Fleming (the accused killer) after he pistol-whipped her fiance, Jeffrey Sparks, 29, and grabbed her friend Mary Jane Gibson's purse about 3:15 a.m....When Fleming pushed back, duFresne refused to back down, [coming] back at him...DuFresne died in her fiance's arms at Rivington and Clinton Sts. The couple, residents of Brooklyn, had plans to marry in October." Resource: https://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/277081p-237316c.html

Three people have been charged now in connection with this case, including a 14 year old girl. This tragedy will definitely make me think carefully about what, if anything, I might say or do in a similar situation or if faced by a criminal.

Edited: dawnofthenew on 2nd Feb, 2005 - 7:01pm

Killing Actress Arrested Suspect

This is a very sad story. It made me think a lot about the way I should react in a situation like that, I guess she tried to play reverse psychology with the criminal but it did not work. You have to be so careful of what you do in situations like this.

Suspect Arrested In Actress Killing Sports & Fashion Music Movies

In nearly all recommended responses to a situation like this, they recommend just giving the money and letting the go. Of course if they were to attack you, then by all means defend yourself - learn a marshal art or carry other defense items.

Money and credit cards can be cancelled or replaced. Lives can be cancelled but not replaced.

Just a thought,

Vincenzo