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NJ Attorney Killed Protecting Wife During Carjacking at High End Mall

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Newlywed attorneys Dustin and Jamie Friedlander. Dustin died late Monday evening after being shot in a mall parking lot during a carjacking.
Newlywed attorneys Dustin and Jamie Friedlander. Dustin died late Monday evening after being shot in a mall parking lot during a carjacking.
A New Jersey lawyer was killed during a carjacking that occurred in a parking lot at the Mall at Short Hills on the evening of Sunday, December 15. Reports indicate that the shooting was the direct result of a devoted husband trying to protect his wife.

The New York Daily News reported that Dustin Friedland, 30, had just helped his wife Jamie into their silver Range Rover when the carjacking took place around d 9 pm. Their car was filled with holiday gifts and he was walking to the driver’s side of the vehicle when the attack took place.

A source close to the investigation told the Daily News that two men “accosted” the victim and demanded his keys.

“He knew his wife was in there and he refused,” the source told the News.

As the Hoboken attorney resisted a struggle ensued and four shots were fired, one of which fatally wounded Friedland, police said.

“Then one of them comes to her door and says, ‘Get out of the car,’” the source said, according to the News. “She got a look at him.” Friedland later died with his wife at his side.

The vehicle that he was killed for, a 2012 Range Rover, worth at least $70,000, was found Monday in the back of an abandoned Newark house, according to police. Police are still searching for the assailants.

The News reported that while heartbroken relatives insist that Friedland, 30, would have avoided violence “at all costs,” his wife’s employer at the 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,” Adam Leitman Bailey reportedly told the news. “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 Friedland and his 27-year-old wife had been planning to start a family. “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, according to the News. “What happened is unconscionable,” said Bailey. “Everybody is crying.”

Jamie Schare Friedland’s uncle, Mark Schare, told The Daily Mail that he believes Friedland would have willingly handed over his keys and therefore he believes that he was shot in cold blood and not during the course of a struggle. “I know him and he wouldn’t resist. It’s not his nature. I know he wouldn’t put up a fight.”

Investigators suspect Friedland was targeted by a carjacking ring who were scoping out potential targets while cruising through the parking lot in a green Subaru shortly before they attacked Friedland, 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.

Both Friedland and his wife were graduates of Syracuse University’s law program. Friedland also had an engineering degree from Bucknell University.

A neighbor of the Hoboken lawyer talked to the Star Ledger about Friedland, calling him a friendly man who often stopped by to give her friendly, yet unsolicited, business advice.

Anna Stanin said she had spoken to Friedland an average of five or six times since he and his wife moved into their apartment building. Since Friedland happened to be a patent attorney he would stop by Stanin’s garage when she was doing work for her new business.

“He was always so intrigued by my ideas,” tearfully told the Ledger. “He would always walk by and give me advice about how to brand my business, and if I ever needed any help. He was just such a nice guy.”

“It’s just so tragic. We shared walls. That’s us right there, and he was right there,” she said, pointing up at their windows. “We’d hear him sometimes. Crazy what this world’s come to.”

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