Senseless Crime. In Brazen Daylight.

 Those pundits citing statistics showing lower levels of violent crimes in many major cities are kind of missing the point.  These murders, carjackings and "swarmings by young people" on downtown city streets and at public places like busy gas stations are simply senseless.

The targeted gang killings, the muggings for valuables, even the garage or home invasions for tvs or jewelry.  That made sense.  These crimes... don't.  

And I don't think much of America will tolerate them for long.  No matter that your statistics show lesser likelihoods overall of being victims today.  It's who's being victimized -- and how they respond in accepting it, or not -- that is different.

FRANKSVILLE, Wis. — A man filling up his car at a Wisconsin gas station was shot and killed by another man on Tuesday, with the suspect fleeing the scene and dying soon after in a shootout with an undercover sheriff's investigator.

Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said the initial shooting happened about 7:30 a.m. at the Pilot Travel Center in the village of Caledonia. Schmaling said a 32-year-old man approached and "viciously executed" a 22-year-old man putting gas in his car.

Schmaling said the gunman then shot at another person driving through the Pilot parking lot — that person was unhurt — and then drove away. The sheriff said the man then approached a person who was filling up his car at a Mobil station about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away.

That man happened to be an undercover sheriff's investigator with 21 years of experience, Schmaling said. He said the two men exchanged gunfire, and the suspect was struck several times and killed.

The investigator was also hit and was taken to a Racine hospital, where he was conscious and alert, the sheriff said.

"It should be noted, ladies and gentlemen, this is 7:30 in the morning at this Mobil station. It was bustling with activity. People getting their gas. People getting their morning cup of coffee. There is no doubt in my mind the quick, heroic actions of our investigator saved lives today," he said.

Thank God for the good guys with guns. And I'm not talking the big hitters either...

ADDED:  I gassed up at that Pilot station in Caledonia during a trip to Chicago a few weeks back...

Here's the thing:  it's a big truck-stop / "travel station", with visible fuel pricing signage off I-94.  Probably hundreds of thousands of people gas up there in summer:  Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. A lot of travelers.  The Chicago stations are all over the story.  People will read about this, and ... your statistics about how crime is not really up provide no comfort.

The young man killed was not even slain for his vehicle.  Just pumping gas in the morning...