Victim recounts frightening moments during carjacking
BEAVERTON, Ore. - Peter Nguyen is still shaken.
He said he is still reliving every step he took as he left his manufacturing job in Beaverton just after midnight and was then carjacked by a man with a gun.
“I'm thinking, he's gonna shoot me,” Nguyen, 39, recalled as he described the incident.
Two suspects, Omarcus Zenus Rhone-Fields-James, 18, and a 17-year-old, were later arrested after running from Nguyen’s car. Nguyen's incident was one of two carjacking incidents in Beaverton early Friday morning.
Nguyen said he was walking towards his Lexus in the parking lot near his workplace when he noticed a person approaching him. He said the man began asking him for directions to the MAX station.
It wasn't until the man got right up close to Nguyen that he realized he was being carjacked.
The man took out a gun and said "put your hands up!” Nguyen said. “I put my hands up and ask 'are you a police officer?' He says 'give me the money"”
The suspect took Nguyen’s wallet, keys, even his lunchbox. But when he asked for his cell phone, Nguyen said he patted his pockets and convinced the suspect he didn’t have one.
The suspect got into Nguyen’s car and then demanded he get in as well.
“I'm thinking, if I come in, he's gonna shoot me for sure,” Nguyen said.
To his relief, the suspect drove off without him. That's when Nguyen said he got out his phone and called 9-1-1. Due to his heavy accent, he said a co-worker helped explain to police what happened.
Within minutes, police said they located Nguyen’s car nearby on Electric Street where the two suspects got out and tried to flee. They arrested Rhone-Fields-James at the scene and said he's the person who carjacked Nguyen.
The other suspect, a minor, was arrested after being found at a nearby apartment complex.
Nguyen said he is relieved at how things turned out. “I feel happy about it,” he told KATU News.
Nguyen said he went home after the incident, skipped his usual activities like working out and watching TV, went in his bedroom and locked the door as he mulled over the events that took place.
He said he has a message for anyone who works late at night: “From now on, at night time, if you try to get in the car, lock it right away,” he advised.
In the other incident, a woman said she was able to grab her keys and run from her car after a man police said may be a transient got into the passenger seat at a stop sign, pulled out a knife and threatened to rape her.
She was not hurt but that suspect remains on the loose.
 Glad you are alive to tell your story, Mr. Nygyen. Everyone feels freaked-out or at least disturbed after an unexpected, unwarranted, random life-threatening or violent encounter from another human being...and it generally takes a little time to recover. Workplaces should be interested in making their parking lots and workers more safe with survellience cameras ( and bold notices thereof), well-let parking lots and security guards if a large facility for after-hour workers. I carry pepper-spray right on my car keychain and walk with keys/spray in hand at the ready in dark or sketchy areas. There are free personal safety workshops for women AND MEN taught in Portland which is often helpful for getting a sense of confidence back, and deal with prevention strategies, recognizing when one is being targeted for an attack, and the pros and cons of various options for ending an attack. Basically, gaining or polishing street-smarts survival skills.
http://www.portlandonline.com/police/index.cfm?c=35911&a=61857
Should have been armed. Taken them out. Less paperwork all around.
The key phrase in the suspects' question was "MAX station". Enough said!
If the suspects are guilty of this alleged crime, they should be hanged.
Carry a gun is always the answer to some people. Â How much time do you really think you have to draw your own weapon when one's already in your face?
 @Scorcho Well, for a CHL holder, situational awareness is important.
Always be aware of where you park - selectively choose to park in well lit areas.
Always be aware of who is around you, their relative position to where you are walking direction, etc.
Always be aware of their distance to you - anyone who approaches within 21 feet of you, gets your immediate attention. In other words, as an unknown person begins to get close to you (starting around 24-22 feet), your alertness / response needs to be ready at this point.
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If you are a CHL holder and you practice situational awareness, it's unlikely anyone will shove a gun in your face.
 @Scorcho You should always be aware of your surroundings...especially nowadays. Even more so if there are strangers about...
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Wonder where he got that name: "Omarcus Zenus Rhone-Fields-James". Sounds like a disease.
That's why people who carry should take self-defense courses that involve neutralizing your threat by using your arms or obstacles in order to give you opportunity to draw your own weapon. Practicing quick-draw and target shooting goes a long way.
What kind of a life did Mom will this dumb kid when she named him "Omarcus Zenus Rhone-Fields-James?"
I wonder if the three last names are the most likely candidates for who the father was.
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 @Lo Pan You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in this or another forum. You have the right to a brain. If you cannot afford a brain, one will be appointed for you.
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"Liberal" and "Conservative" are labels used by fools who have no clue what they're talking about.
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 @r75 By the privates.
Back in the days of yore, that was the penalty for horse-theft! We've come a long way!
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 @2nd Baseman "Watch it, dude! I know karate, judo and a lot of other oriental words!"
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;-)
 @2nd Baseman Oh, riiiiiight...blame the victim from the comfort of your armchair. [rolls eyes]
 @2nd Baseman Ever looked down the barrel of a gun being held by a person who is willing to kill you? Until you've experienced that, your attempt to minimize his experience is unfounded.
Been there, had it happen, and I am now here, he's not!
I'm happy you came out of this situation uninjured, but hurrying to the car and locking your doors won't completely keep you safe. Your employer should reconsider allowing employees who possess a CHL to carry for self-defense in situations like these.