A week after Cynthia Hansen was brutally assaulted at her fitness studio in Whiteville, many residents and business owners are taking additional steps to protect themselves, their families and workers.
Hansen, 71, was stabbed multiple times in her Thompson Street facility sometime before 6 a.m. on March 11. Police responding to a 911 call from a client found her inside the business and called an ambulance. She later died at Columbus Regional.
“We have seen an increase in calls about our classes,” said Mike Myrie of the Sheepdog Foundation, a Whiteville non-profit offering self-defense and firearm training. “People are asking about our classes, the Women’s Self Defense Club, and what they can do.”
Myrie said the classes he and his wife Alicia teach “are real world based.
“Nobody is going to learn how to be John Wick in three weeks,” he said. “Not everybody needs to be a Tier One operator. It’s more about the mindset. We pray nobody ever needs the skills we teach, but in these days and times, people are rightfully concerned.”
He said the classes do not focus solely on firearms training. All proceeds go to the Foundation’s mentoring and youth programs, which focus on personal responsibility and life skills.
“We want people to know how to avoid a bad situation in the first case,” Myrie said. “Preventing a problem is much safer than solving one. We teach firearms training and safety, of course, from the most basic level, but we deal in ‘no contact’ as well as how to defend yourself unarmed.
“I think one of the most important things we teach, and we teach it in our kids’ classes as well, is to look out for one another. If everybody is trained, and everybody is paying attention, the bad guy has a significantly smaller chance of doing anyone any harm.”
Area residents are taking a variety of steps to protect themselves in the wake of Hansen’s death. Some businesses are requiring employees leaving work to go out in pairs. Some have increased security around parking areas, and more residents are carrying firearms.
A post on the CCN Facebook page showed that many in the community were horrified by the killing, and are concerned for the safety of themselves and their families.
“In a small town like ours, when something like this happens it hits close to home for all of us,” said Wesley Ward of Whiteville. “When asked what people are doing differently after an event like this, my honest answer is that it reinforces why I believe strongly in responsible self-defense and the rights protected by the Second Amendment.
“For me, carrying a firearm is similar to putting your children in proper restraints when you drive. You never get in your vehicle planning to have an accident, but you take those precautions because you understand that sometimes bad things happen unexpectedly. If the worst ever does happen, you want to know you did everything you reasonably could to protect the people you love.”
Ward said that he is also a staunch advocate of firearms safety.
“Equally important is understanding that owning or carrying a firearm comes with a serious responsibility. Training and practice matter. Going to the range regularly, learning proper firearm safety, and becoming familiar and confident with your equipment are all critical parts of being a responsible gun owner.
“At the end of the day, none of us ever want to be in a situation where we have to defend ourselves or someone else. But evil and violence unfortunately exist in this world. Being prepared, trained, and responsible is one way people choose to protect themselves and their families.
“My prayers remain with the victim’s loved ones. Situations like this remind us all just how precious life is and how important it is to look out for one another in our communities.”
“I’m doing the buddy system, so to speak,” said Tami Jo Chamberlain. “Always going places with a friend and not alone.
“For those of you that are apprehensive about having a firearm around because of little children (you) should be looking into getting a Byrna gun,” said Jo Anne Capozzoli. “Non-lethal but will incapacitate a person for 30 minutes.
Multiple respondents to the CCN Facebook post said they are armed most of the time, if not always.
“(I’m) Carrying,” said Tesa Bush. “So do my kids.”
“I cannot imagine the pain they (the family) are having to endure,” said Sara Faulk Stephens. “As a female who was in the car business for 20 years, you have to be aware of your surroundings. Criminals attack those that aren’t paying attention or who are otherwise occupied.
“I tell my grandchildren to put the phones down when in public. Watch people, look at them and if anything seems off…it is! Walk with someone, it’s harder to attack two than one. For those of you who can’t carry, get mace and put it on your key chain and keep it with you at all times.
“I carry and my husband carries. The last thing I would ever want to do is have to kill someone, but if it’s them or me and my family, it will be them or I will die trying!”
Sheila Williams, owner of Waffle International, said her staff stays on high alert.
“I’m having my employees park in the front parking lot,” she said, “and walk in together. We have one person at opening at 5:30 a.m., locked and loaded.”
“It’s not enough to carry a firearm and think you’re safe,” Myrie said. “I firmly support the Second Amendment – but you need to know how and when to use that firearm. And the best scenario is never having to use it at all. Stay aware, and if your instincts say something isn’t right, know it likely isn’t. Decide what you’re going to do.”
Anyone with information or surveillance footage from the area near Hansen’s studio s asked to contact Whiteville Police at 910.642.5111.
