Car salesman murdered for refusing test drive

ssj_jaypee · 08-09-2005, 08:01 PM

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...track=morenews

Quote:

Salesman Murdered at Cerritos Car Dealership
When denied a test drive, customer stabs salesman repeatedly.

By Wendy Thermos, Times Staff Writer

A well-dressed man stabbed a car salesman to death with a butcher knife after a Cerritos dealership turned down his request to test-drive a Corvette, officials said today.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies arrested Melchor Macaso, 35, of Norwalk on suspicion of murder after the victim's co-workers restrained the suspect at the scene, according to Capt. Daryl Evans. Macaso was being held in lieu of $1-million bail.

Such attacks are rare, "but they do happen," said Charlie Gill, executive director of the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Assn., representing 303 dealerships and 4,500 salespersons.

"It can be hazardous going out on a test drive, even if you do get a driver's license," Gill said.

Frank D'Agostino, general manager of S&J Chevrolet in the 18600 block of Studebaker Road, said Macaso arrived about 7 p.m. Tuesday and asked to drive a demonstrator car.

"The policy is you can't test-drive a car without a driver's license, and he couldn't produce one," D'Agostino said.

The man became violent in the dealership office when the salesman, whose identity was being withheld until relatives could be notified, turned down the request, Evans said.

Investigators said the suspect withdrew a knife from his clothing and immediately stabbed the salesman several times in the chest before attempting to flee.

The salesman died at Long Beach Memorial Hospital, coroner's Lt. Emil Moldovan said.

Employees who witnessed the attack grabbed Macaso and a brief struggle ensued. "They restrained him and sat on him" until deputies arrived, D'Agostino said.

D'Agostino believes the suspect came to the car lot planning to steal a vehicle. "Obviously he was prepared to do this because he had a large butcher knife with him," he said.

Gill said it was the first such incident he has heard of in Los Angeles County, where 371,000 new cars were sold last year.

"But I've heard of it happening in other places. Someone going out on a test drive and the salesperson being murdered and the car stolen," Gill said.

"Dealerships are open to the public and anyone can come in, and you are vulnerable," Gill said. "It's a shame."

At least they nabbed the guy right after. What a monster.
Lucky stuff like that doesnt happen in Australia... yet.

MO · 08-09-2005, 08:51 PM

Take particular note of your word YET...it won't be long the way things are going.

M14A-Mclaren · 08-09-2005, 08:59 PM

Aye? Australians aren't as physcho as Americans.

MO · 08-09-2005, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14A-Mclaren

Aye? Australians aren't as physcho as Americans.

So who said it was going to be an Aussie...were not the only ones here anymore.

MrSparkle · 08-09-2005, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McMaster

So who said it was going to be an Aussie...were not the only ones here anymore.

Surprised it hasn't happened already to be honest. Couldn't pay me enough to be a sales rep at any Subaru / Nissan / HSV / FPV dealership in south west Sydney.

MO · 08-09-2005, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSparkle

Surprised it hasn't happened already to be honest. Couldn't pay me enough to be a sales rep at any Subaru / Nissan / HSV / FPV dealership in south west Sydney.

OOhhh how so true...but its been coming for a while now.

LUXO_8 · 08-09-2005, 09:01 PM

woah thats insane...

least they got the guy.....what a mentalcase

MITCHAY · 08-09-2005, 09:12 PM

Hope the guy gets torn a new one in jail. Still no comfort to the family.

I cant believe people do stuff like this to people who are just doing their job.

Very sad indeed.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 08-09-2005, 09:50 PM

Scary stuff, I feel sorry for the guys family...

Philbie · 08-09-2005, 09:59 PM

Employees who witnessed the attack grabbed Macaso and a brief struggle ensued. "They restrained him and sat on him" until deputies arrived, D'Agostino said.

What on earth was Laminge doing there???

EA2BA · 09-09-2005, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbie

Employees who witnessed the attack grabbed Macaso and a brief struggle ensued. "They restrained him and sat on him" until deputies arrived, D'Agostino said.

What on earth was Laminge doing there???

Thats what I was thinking ........... lol

galaxy xr8 · 09-09-2005, 10:40 AM

One of our local used car dealer's here in Bendigo got hit over the head and attacked by a baseball bat last week because he wouldn't sell this guy a vehicle.

Steffo · 09-09-2005, 10:55 AM

Unbelieveable...

The things that happen these days... *shakes head*

zetec · 09-09-2005, 11:27 AM

They might have to change the policy to Drivers licence and full body search before test drive.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 09-09-2005, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetec

They might have to change the policy to Drivers licence and full body search before test drive.

Sad sign of the times isn't it? If they had to do that, I wonder how long it would be until potential customers had to go through a metal detector, or even have a cavity search done too...

People disgust me sometimes.