You should always lock your car doors as soon as you get in the car. I will justify that remark with a real life “for instance” at the end of this story.

Shawn Sullivan walked into the Shell gas station on South Cumberland in Lebanon brandishing a weapon. After robbing the store, he fled in a stolen car on Interstate 40 towards Nashville when he noticed he was being followed by a Wilson County Sheriff’s Deputy. Sullivan tried to run from the police by exiting northbound onto Donelson Pike, but he hit a Prius and took off on foot.  Two people in the Prius were injured, one of whom is a 9 year old child. Thankfully, it doesn’t appear she has life threatening injuries. Sullivan then attempted to carjack a vehicle turning into a parking lot but was unable to make entry into the vehicle. He was then apprehended cowering under a SUV in the Walgreen’s parking lot.

Sullivan is facing armed robbery charges in Lebanon, additional charges regarding evading arrest and reckless endangment in Nashville, and also wanted for several charges in West Tennesse including Assault and Armed Robbery.

It was bad enough that the guy held up a convenience store, ran from the police, and hit two innocent people, but think of that person whose vehicle he tried to carjack – they were smart to have their doors locked giving them precious seconds to get away from this lunatic with a gun. Whether you’re sitting in a parking lot or driving down the road, just hit the button and lock your doors and give yourself one more layer of protection against unexpected dangers in the world!