Another tragic chapter in California’s soft-on-crime saga unfolded this week when a 79-year-old Army veteran and grandfather was killed in broad daylight — dragged half a mile to his death by a suspected carjacker at a gas station in Norco.
The victim, James “Jim” Norman, was simply vacuuming his Chevrolet Trailblazer at an ARCO gas station around 12:30 p.m. on Monday when 29-year-old Ryan Hewitt allegedly jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off, dragging the elderly veteran along for a harrowing ride.
Norman, described by family as too frail to react quickly, held on to the vehicle as it tore away from the station. Witnesses immediately called 911 as they watched the heartbreaking scene unfold.
“The caller reported witnessing a male entering the driver seat of a vehicle and driving away with the vehicle owner partially inside the rear seat,” police said.
Just minutes later, Norman’s body was found crumpled on the side of the road, barely half a mile from the gas station and heartbreakingly close to his home. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital, but it was too late. The beloved veteran died from his injuries.
Norman’s daughter, Nicole Lauritsen, believes the suspect knew her father was hanging on but kept going anyway. “He knew my dad was hanging, but just panicked and kept going until he fell out of the car,” she told local reporters. “He was too old and frail to get out before the door slammed on him.”
The victim, who wore hearing aids but wasn’t wearing them at the time, likely didn’t even hear the carjacker approaching due to the vacuum running, Lauritsen explained.
This tragic incident raises urgent questions — how many innocent Americans must die before Democrat-run cities and states get serious about crime?
California, once the land of opportunity, has turned into a lawless wasteland where criminals operate with impunity. Between radical progressive prosecutors, cashless bail, and handcuffed police, it’s no wonder violent crime has seeped into even the quietest suburbs.
Thanks to quick action by law enforcement—and tracking assistance from an AirTag Lauritsen had placed on her father’s car—police soon located the abandoned Trailblazer and then arrested Hewitt. He is now facing charges of carjacking and murder.
But no arrest can undo the devastating loss for Norman’s family.
A veteran, father, and pilot, Norman lived a humble life filled with adventure, hard work, and dedication. According to a GoFundMe page set up by his family, Norman served in the Army, worked in construction, transported vehicles, and even took to the skies as a pilot. “Whether building something with his hands or sharing tales from the road, Jim brought energy and authenticity to everything he did,” the page reads.
What happened to Jim Norman should never have happened. But in today’s California, justice often comes too late — and at too high a cost. The question remains: When will the state stop prioritizing criminals over citizens like Jim Norman?
