BEST FRIENDS TO THE END SELFLESS ACT SAVES FRIEND, BUT COSTS LIFE.Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer Twelve years ago, Jurgen Hapke - a burly 6-foot-4 commercial painter - came to the aid of an elderly purse-snatching victim, chasing down the assailant and retrieving the handbag. So no one who knew Hapke was surprised to hear that he didn't hesitate to help his best friend and business partner when he was accosted ac·cost tr.v. ac·cost·ed, ac·cost·ing, ac·costs 1. To approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with a demand or request. 2. To solicit for sex. by a knife-wielding assailant. Hapke's selflessness cost him his life. The 65-year-old Burbank man was killed early Wednesday when he tried to help Helmut Mende, 71, who was attacked as the pair worked outside a Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. bank. ``He saved my husband's life,'' a sobbing Gerda Mende said Friday in an interview at the couple's North Hollywood home. ``My son, (Alex) who was working with them, said, 'We have to let people know he was a hero.''' Hapke's stepsons, Brent Turnham, 32, and Bradley Turnham, 28, both of Burbank, were grief-stricken at Hapke's slaying, but said they understood his need to help Mende. ``We're so happy to have Helmut alive,'' said Brent Turnham, adding that he was also speaking on behalf of his wife, Joyce, who was in seclusion seclusion Forensic psychiatry A strategy for managing disturbed and violent Pts in psychiatric units, which consists of supervised confinement of a Pt to a room–ie, involuntary isolation, to protect others from harm . ``He wouldn't have had it any other way. He really loved Helmut.'' Hapke and Mende were both originally from Germany - Hapke from Berlin, Mende from Hamburg. They met in Vancouver, Canada, in 1960, but later moved to Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , where they could get painting work year-round. Together, they worked for several large companies, and then founded Colorfast col·or·fast adj. Having color that will not run or fade with washing or wear: a colorfast fabric. col Waterproofing & Painting in 1979. Mende said he and Hapke had finished painting the three-story Wells Fargo Wells Fargo armored carriers of bullion. [Am. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 1147] See : Protectiveness Wells Fargo company that handled express service to western states; often robbed. [Am. Hist. Bank building in the 9300 block of Wilshire Boulevard Wilshire Boulevard is one of the principal east-west arterial roads in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was named for H. Gaylord Wilshire (1861-1927), an Ohio native who made and lost fortunes in real estate, farming, and gold mining. and were taking down their equipment at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday when he saw an older-model car pull up and a man get out. Assuming the man was going to the ATM, he didn't pay any attention until he felt something hit him, hard, in the back. He fought off his attacker, who had a large kitchen knife, wrapped inside a newspaper. Mende was stabbed in both arms, and then fell to the ground. Hapke rushed over, screaming at the man. The assailant stabbed Hapke in the chest. He staggered a few steps and fell. The man fled in a large, royal blue American-made car with a vinyl roof Vinyl roof refers to a vinyl covering for an automobile's top. This covering was originally designed to give something of the appearance of a convertible to models with a fixed roof, but eventually it evolved into a styling statement in its own right. . ``When he was running away from Jurgen, I could see part of his face and he was smiling,'' Mende said, incredulous. Gerda Mendes added, ``(Helmut) thinks he was high on drugs, because he was stabbing in the air with his knife like a madman, and he never said a word.'' Authorities described the suspect as an African-American man, 30-40 years old, 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, with a medium complexion and very short, dark hair. He was wearing a black and gray plaid shirt or jacket, and dark pants. ``It was such a cowardly act,'' Brent Turnham said. ``These guys are not young, and to stab someone in the back.'' Lisa M. Sodders, (818) 713-3663 lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com HOW TO HELP Anyone with information about the slaying of Jurgen Hapke is asked to call the Beverly Hills Police Department at (310) 285-2158 or after hours Adv. 1. after hours - not during regular hours; "he often worked after hours" at (310) 285-2125. CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1) Helmut Mende sits in his North Hollywood home and describes how he and his friend, Jurgen Hapke, were attacked by a knife-wielding man while painting a bank building. (2) Jurgen Hapke, center, was stabbed and killed when he confronted a man who was attacking his friend Helmut Mende, right, with a knife. Michael Owen
Box: HOW TO HELP (see text) |
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