Doing what’s right isn’t always easy and can actually be dangerous at times. Yet those who are brave willingly put themselves in harm’s way in order to do what they believe is the right thing.
Recently, an active duty sailor in the Navy decided to stop and help out a stranger after spotting what looked like a driver stranded on the side of a California freeway. Tragically, however, the sailor’s act of kindness and bravery ended up costing him his life.
An Early Morning Drive
In the early hours of October 27, 2018, 21-year-old Curtis Adams, a sailor in the Navy, was driving with his girlfriend in San Diego, California. According to police, the pair had been heading southbound on Interstate 15 at around 2:20 in the morning on a Saturday.
The Stranded Driver
While driving on the interstate, Adams spotted a car pulled over near the northbound Interstate 5 on-ramp. Adams could see the driver of the car, who appeared to be stranded, and wondered if his car had broken down or if there was an emergency.
The Right Thing
Most people in that situation would have just kept driving and left the stranded motorist on the side of the interstate, especially since it was so late. However, Adams knew the right thing to do was stop and see if the person was alright and ask if they needed any help.
A Navy Sailor
Adams was an active duty member of the Navy. According to officials, he worked as a steelworker construction man in the Navy and had been stationed in San Diego at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. For Adams, helping out a complete stranger was second nature.
An Act of Kindness
So Adams pulled over on the side of the interstate where the stranded motorist was pulled over. He told his girlfriend that he was just going to see what was wrong with the motorist and see if there was anything he could do to help out. Tragically, Adam’s act of kindness would end up costing him his life.
Senseless Violence
According to police, Adams stepped out of his car and started walking over to the stranger. Tragically, he only made it a few steps before the stranded motorist pulled out a gun and shot Adams. The sailor never even got the chance to explain he just wanted to check if everything was alright.
The Only Witness
Adams was hit by the bullet and instantly collapsed where he had been standing. His girlfriend had been in the car the entire time and afraid she would be shot if she jumped out of the car to see if Adams was alright. Instead, she did the only thing she could think to do.
The 911 Call
Adams’ girlfriend pulled out her phone and called 911. She frantically explained what had just happened and told the 911 dispatcher that her boyfriend needed an ambulance to take him to the hospital as he had been shot. Meanwhile, the shooter was getting away.
Help Arrives
The man who Adams had believed was a stranded motorist sped off in his car and left Adams bleeding out on the side of the road. Not long after, however, first responders arrived and loaded Adams into an ambulance, where they tried to stabilize him and stop the bleeding.
A Tragic Ending
After being loaded into the ambulance, Adams was rushed straight to the UC San Diego Medical Center. Doctors hoped there would be enough time to save the young Navy sailor. But tragically, he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The Shooter’s Description
Meanwhile, police were back at the scene of the crime speaking with Adams’ girlfriend. They needed to get as many details about what had just happened if they were going to find the person who had shot the 21-year-old. While making a statement, Adams’ girlfriend tried to give a detailed description of the shooter and the car that he had driven off in.
The Alert
Shortly after, an alert was sent out by the California Highway Patrol. In the alert, they explained that a vehicle had stopped on north Interstate 5 near 32nd street. According to a witness, a man had been seen walking away from the area around that time.
Catching The Shooter
Officers from the San Diego Police Department immediately went out in search of the shooter. According to the police department, officers on patrol spotted a man who fit the shooter’s description walking nearby where the car had been found. They stopped him and started questioning him.
The Arrest
After questioning the suspect, who the police have identified as 21-year-old Brandon Acuna, they were confident they had caught the shooter who had killed Adams. According to the police, they arrested him on the spot for suspicion of murder and burglary.
The Charges
Police also explained that Acuna hadn’t been alone in the car at the time of the shooting. They also managed to find the passenger and detained him as well. Acuna was then booked into San Diego County Central Jail and charged with first-degree murder and second-degree burglary.
A History of Crime
While in custody, police learned that Acuna had pleaded guilty to a few misdemeanor charges over the years and had been on probation at that time. According to investigators, some of those charges included driving without a license, carrying a concealed dagger, and possessing methamphetamine.
The Investigation Continues
Just minutes before killing Adams, Acuna had been involved in another incident where he and his accomplices shot at a man, who didn’t end up getting injured, after he caught them trying to break into his car. For now, police are trying to figure out who else may have been involved in Adams’ death and what their roles were in the incident.
Breaking The News
Shortly after Adams’ death, police notified his family, who were understandably devastated and shocked by the news. “It felt like a ton of bricks on your chest when I heard the news,” Adams’ brother, Kadeem told Fox 5. He was the goofiest, silliest kid you would ever meet.
A Crazy World
“He was just an amazing person. … This situation just shows that the world we live in is crazy,” Kadeem added. “To stop and offer help and someone just takes something away from you, your life.” According to his family, Adams had grown up in Brooklyn, New York and enlisted in the Navy in March 2016. While they were shocked by the news, they weren’t surprised when they heard Adams had died while trying to help the stranger.
A True Hero
“He always wanted to do great things. He always wanted to help people,” Desmond Abrams Jr., Adams’ cousin, told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “You have to be really brave to live like that. He was very excited about deploying and doing his job with the Navy. He loved the uniform. He was really proud of being a sailor.”
