Las Vegas family faces tough questions after mom killed in shootout inspired by road rage

[iscooterliberally]

LAS VEGAS — What police first described as the road rage-inspired killing of an innocent mother of four has morphed into a more complex scenario, prompting tough questions and a backlash against her family.

Tammy Meyers, 44, was shot in the head in her Las Vegas driveway shortly before midnight Thursday after confrontations that began when she was giving her 15-year-old daughter an after-hours driving lesson and the girl honked at a driver she felt was speeding, police said.

Those facts haven't changed, police Lt. Ray Steiber said Tuesday at a news conference, where he noted that the mother's life-support was disconnected on Valentine's Day, and insisted that she alone is "our victim."

But the fatal shooting turned out to be a two-way shootout, provoked by a separate encounter with unidentified assailants, after Tammy Meyers roused her son, Brandon, from bed to grab his gun and go looking for the driver she had encountered earlier, Steiber said.

"I would never say that anybody went looking for trouble," Steiber said when asked to characterize their five-to-10 minute drive through the neighborhood.

"It is our job, Steiber added, "to ensure that everyone is safe, regardless of what our personal opinions are on certain people's actions. They weren't criminal and I'll leave it at that."

The family spoke at a vigil Tuesday night next to the junior high school parking lot where Kristal Meyers got her driving lesson.

"She didn't deserve this," said Brandon Meyers, 22. "I did what I had to do to protect my family. Everyone can think what they have to think. I did it for a reason. And I'd do it for anyone I love."

full story at link:
http://www.startribune.com/nation/292328441.html?page=1&c=y

Please try to avoid road rage. I have gotten caught in these a couple of times in the last 15-20 years. There are a lot of rude drivers in South Florida. If you find yourself being follow by an enraged driver do not go home, or to work. I would drive to nearest police station, or fire station. Find a traffic circle and just go in circles even. I ignore the other driver and keep driving until they get tired of following me. I had a friend of mine wind up with an enraged driver with a gun in his driveway once. He had to call the cops to get rid of the guy, but it was too late. Mr Nutjob knew where my friend lived. Whatever you do, DO NOT do what this woman did. Road Rage is a no win situation. The best outcome is to avoid it altogether. Stay safe out there!

[wyldwolf]

1. The story leaves a lot to be answered.

1. Why did the mom think her son could find the other driver after she came home, got him out of bed, etc.?
2. How did the other driver know where she lived?

Sounds like they knew the other driver.

[City Lights]

2. According to the article, and a news report I heard on TeeVee,

the vehicle followed them home.

From the linked article:

"They left the house in search of that person," Steiber said, and found a grey or silver four-door sedan matching the description of the car in the earlier confrontation. She followed the "suspect vehicle," then they broke apart and she drove home. Then the vehicle came into their cul-de-sac.

[wyldwolf]

3. that answers one question

"They left the house in search of that person," Steiber said, and found a grey or silver four-door sedan matching the description of the car in the earlier confrontation.

If I set out after midnight to find a vehicle I'd seen before - even if only minutes before - the chances are slim I'd find it. Let's just assume just 15 minutes passed from the initial confrontation until the son had his gun and was off looking for the car. They actually found it? In just that small period of time, the assailant could have been 20 miles away, turned down any number of roads. Just seems odd...

[iscooterliberally]

9. It's odd, but not as unlikely as you might think.

Last November I was a victim of a drive by with a paintball gun. I was out walking my dogs when I got shot in the stomach by some kid riding in the back of an SUV. I got yellow paint on my shirt and a nasty welt on my belly. I looked up and noticed that it was a dark green Ford Excursion. It was already too far away for me to read the license plate. I noticed the stickers on the back window though. I also figured it was some kids joy riding through my neighborhood. I called the police and reported it. Just because I would be OK didn't mean that they might not hit someone else in the eye and send them to the ER. I decided to go looking for the driver because I just knew they would be near by. I took my wife with me so she could jot down the tag number for the cops. I drove up on US1 which is 3 lanes in either direction, and I found the SUV sitting at a light with teenagers inside. The same stickers were on the back window, so my wife took the tag number down and we went back to the police, and they caught the kids responsible for shooting me. I did not confront them, or even let on that we were looking for them. They didn't know what kind of car I had so there was nothing to tip them off that they were being watched. I'm sure that Las Vegas is similar to South Florida in that young people cruise around in their cars with no particular place to go. They just want to get out of mom and dad's house and be on their own for a while. Chances were slim that I would find them, but I got lucky. It turns out that the driver in my case was 16 years old and had just gotten his license that day. It was the first and probably last time his dad would let him borrow the truck.

[Romeo.lima333]

4. mistakes were made the father said

[SoCalMusicLover]

7. Mistakes Happen - Most Unfortunate

Yeah Pops, mistakes happen.

Like when you make a mistake on your taxes, and pay a little more than you should have.

When you make a "mistake" and guns are involved, the consequences are slightly more severe.

But at least he and his son will have their God Gven 2nd Amendment rights to protect themselves going forward.

Now on to the next "mistake" which caused a death by shooting.

[Romeo.lima333]

10. if only she had a gun with which to protect herself

[GusBob]

5. Good advice on avoiding road rage

Road rage *just about always* requires 2 parties. Just don't be that second person. we have all been in these situations, me as recently as last week. Just smile and wave, drive on, drive away, blow it off. DONT ENGAGE THE OTHER PERSON IN ANY WAY. Even if the other person is in the wrong, just don't do it

To me its kinda like being a defensive driver. Watch out for the other guy and be in complete control of yourself.

[iscooterliberally]

11. Yeah that's another thing I like to say too.

You can be responsible for yourself, but not for other people.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. This is Vegas Baby!!

Agree there is a ton more going down we have not heard. And,this is a so called desired neighborhood,some ones attitude got themselves into deep doo doo. Neighbors of Meyers made statements as to claiming the person of interest lives in that area.

[Fred Sanders]

8. So two families armed and ready to kill each other makes it "different"? Only in gun mad America.

This white on white GUN crime is epidemic. Death is so easy with guns around.

300 million at last count.

Think about that...300 million killing machines, essentially unregulated, in Stupid And Angry and Paranoid White America.

[onethatcares]

12. and that my friend

scares the shit out of me more than you can imagine.

I live where there are over 1,000,000 people carrying concealed firearms, at least the permitted ones.

gaud only knows how many nutcases are carrying without under the three step rule.

Everyone of them could become an enraged idiot at the drop of a hat because we've heard

"he was the nicest guy up until he blew his wifes brains out" often enough to think twice.

good luck

[Fred Sanders]

13. Can you imagine being a police officer? An overlooked component is the massive arsenals everywhere.

[iscooterliberally]

14. Different? The state that I live in is even shaped like a gun.

I just assume that everyone around here has one in their glove box and another one in a holster, and another one in their waistband, and another one in their kid's backpack...etc. I just smile and waive and do 50 laps around that traffic circle so they think I'm the one who's crazy.

[onethatcares]

15. YOU

live in Oklahoma???

My state looks more like a gun than yours.

nananananapoopoo

[iscooterliberally]

16. OK. Your state looks like a gun too.

Maybe we should put up one of those poll thingies and see which state looks the most like a gun?

[onethatcares]

17. those poll "thingies"

always turn out looking like guns too.

[gwheezie]

18. I don't believe this story

Something ain't right.
Any reason why mom would be giving driving lessons to a 15 year old who doesn't have a permit at 11pm? That was the 1st weird thing and it just gets more incredible. The 2 kids are telling the story. I'm betting this doesn't hang together.

[2banon]

19. The headline says it was a "shoot out". Skimming through the excerpted paragraphs..

I'm not finding that information. just that bit makes me wonder what the actual facts were.

Why does the headline say that and yet not mention it in the opening paragraph?

Something doesn't add up, and I agree that the driving lesson at 11:pm seems a bit weird. It's possible the mother was high on alcohol or other intoxicating substance, I can easily imagine an irresponsible parent drunk or high deciding it was a good time to have their 15 year old be the designated driver.

That said.. she's a victim non the less. Her children could easily have been victims too,

[gwheezie]

20. It was bad enough could have been worsr

Several really bad decisions by several people. I saw a news clip before she was taken off life support that her husband said the cops better find the killer before he does. I hope for his sake and the rest of the family that he can control his anger.

[pipi_k]

21. Wow...

sounds like the entire family has an anger problem!