Missouri Man Attacked After Offering Ride to Stranger in a Shocking Turn of Events
Independence, Missouri – October 7, 2023: A Missouri man’s act of kindness took a horrifying turn when he was stabbed twice by a stranger he had offered a ride to.
Doctore Paton, a resident of Independence, was working on his truck at his home on September 29, 2023, when he was approached by a man later identified as 28-year-old Tyler Rizer. Rizer asked for a ride, claiming his car had broken down and he needed to get back to Target. Without hesitation, Paton agreed to help.
However, once inside the vehicle, Rizer’s behavior became increasingly erratic. He attempted to alter their intended destination, and when Paton tried to pull over, the situation escalated into a perilous encounter.
According to a police affidavit acquired by KMBC-TV, Rizer took control of the vehicle and began making threats towards Paton. Shockingly, Rizer also produced a knife from the car’s center console, intensifying the danger of the situation, as reported by the Kansas City Star.
Paton’s wife, Heather, recounted to KMBC-TV that Rizer menaced her husband, saying, “You’re going to keep driving, or I’m going to stab you.” Defying Rizer’s demands, Paton took decisive action.
“I veered onto the shoulder and slowed the car down enough to shift it into park, then I removed the key from the ignition,” Paton explained.
Attempting to exit the vehicle, Paton was brutally stabbed twice in the chest by Rizer. Paton recounted his terrifying experience, saying, “I believed my life was in grave danger. I thought he was going to kill me.”
Despite his injuries, Paton managed to escape to a neighbor’s residence, where his neighbor bravely chased Rizer away using a shovel.
“I’m immensely grateful to him for saving my life,” Paton expressed his gratitude for his neighbor’s quick thinking. Paton was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries, according to KMBC-TV.
Following the stabbing, the police affidavit, as reported by the Kansas City Star, detailed Rizer’s continued spree of violence. Rizer allegedly jumped a fence and intruded into another resident’s yard, where he threatened a mother and her two children. He then reportedly stole their vehicle, which was subsequently involved in a collision.
Witnesses informed the police that Rizer attempted to carjack someone following the crash, but he was eventually apprehended.
Tyler Rizer has been charged with assault and armed criminal action, according to Fox 4 News. The Kansas City Star also revealed Rizer’s history of felony convictions, including assault on a law enforcement officer, robbery, burglary, and motor vehicle tampering.
