Mall at Short Hills victim defending wife from carjackers when shot: source
The victim, Dustin Friedland, 30, wasn't protecting his luxury SUV, says a source close to the investigation — but his beloved wife Jamie, already in the car. One thug had come close to her and ordered her out, but 'she got a look at him,' says the source.
Comments (264)BY TINA MOORE , RYAN SIT AND CORKY SIEMASZKO / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
PUBLISHED: MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013, 9:55 AM
UPDATED: MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013, 7:32 PM
The Hoboken lawyer killed by carjackers at an upscale New Jersey mall gave up his life — to protect his wife.
Dustin Friedland had just let his beloved Jamie into their luxury SUV and was walking around to the driver’s side when he was ambushed by two crooks who demanded the keys, a source close to the investigation told The Daily News.
“He knew his wife was in there and he refused,” the source said Monday.
Instead, the brave lawyer resisted and in the struggle four shots were fired, one of which mortally wounded Friedland, police said.
DUSTIN J. FRIEDLAND/FACEBOOK
Dustin Friedland, 30, was shot and killed during a violent carjacking at the Short Hills Mall in New Jersey.
“Then one of them comes to her door and says, ‘Get out of the car’,” the source said. “She got a look at him.”
Friedland died later Sunday night with his heartbroken wife by his side.
His 2012 Range Rover, which is worth at least $70,000, was found Monday in the back of an abandoned Newark house, police said.
Heartbroken relatives described the 30-year-old Friedland as a sensible man who would avoided violence if at all possible.
JAMIE SCHARE FRIEDLAND/FACEBOOK
The man was remembered as a devoted husband to his wife, Jamie (left). The wife was with him as he was gunned down in cold-blood.
But Jamie Friedland’s boss at the Manhattan law firm where she works as an attorney said he would have fought like a lion for her.
“Dustin was rational, intelligent and had great judgment,” said Adam Leitman Bailey. “I highly doubt that he fought the attackers to save his car. I do believe he would fight for his wife’s life.”
Bailey said the young couple had been planning to start their own family.
WABC
The vehicle, a 2012 silver Range Rover, was recovered on Renner Ave. in Newark.
“She would just light up when he would walk in the room,” he said. “She was so happy to be married.”
The Adam Leitman Bailey law firm has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.
“What happened is unconscionable,” said Bailey. “Everybody is crying.”
Investigators suspect Friedland was targeted at The Mall at Short Hills by members of a carjacking ring who were after his silver-colored SUV.
WABC
Police converged on the car Monday morning after issuing an alert. The suspects were not found with the vehicle.
The suspects were spotted scoping out potential targets while cruising through the parking lot in a green Subaru shortly before they attacked Friedland around 9 p.m. Sunday, officials said.
"We’re leaving all options open at this time,” said Katherine Carter of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, when asked about the reported ring. “We haven't eliminated anything at this juncture.”
In Hoboken, Yiba Diez, a waitress at Zafra restaurant, mourned the handsome young couple that regularly came by for brunch with pals on the weekends.
“He would come in early with his wife,” Diez, 40, said. “They were always happy, very happy together. Especially him, he was very friendly."
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW
This Syracuse University College of Law class photo from 2009 shows victim Dustin Friedland.
Diez said they were stunned when they heard what happened to one of their favorite customers.
“We were like, ‘Oh my God, no way’,” she said. “Very sad.”
Reached in Michigan, Friedland’s uncle said the killers didn’t need to shoot his nephew.