[Payne]

Just to play Devils advocate,

If you pushed your way in between Al Capone and one of his enforcers, I doubt you would have walked much further. You can replace that with most any ruthless people in RL. There is a long history of saving face, or dealing with a lack of respect. To ignore showed weakness.

So IMO, it's not that hard to believe shouldering your way through notorious nasties would end poorly for someone.