Making decisions based on fear alone is what's causing deaths like the one on the train. If fear hadn't griped him he would have recognized that once the dude stopped moving he could let go.

And before anyone comes at me here, I have done almost the same thing to a guy outside a bar. He was drunk as a skunk, had been beat up and was bleeding from a head wound, and wasn't thinking clearly. I held him in a close-to a choke hold but was still worried if I let him go he'd turn around and clock me. But I still let him go after a few minutes. He did punch me (not in the face), then left it at that.

Too many are running on fear these days, including cops, and we don't need it. It's useless. If I, as a woman, can understand that and still do the 'right' thing, why can't I expect a dude to do the same?