Courageous Bystander Robbery Attempt in Ft. Lauderdale. In a dramatic turn of events, a suspected robber's plan to pillage a Family Dollar store was thwarted by a courageous armed bystander, according to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, police records.
The incident unfolded on September 13th, around 10 p.m., when a 20-year-old resident of Fort Lauderdale, and an unidentified accomplice targeted a Family Dollar outlet as its staff prepared to close for the day, as reported by Local 10 News.
The suspect purportedly approached an employee, claiming to have inadvertently left his cellphone inside the store and urgently needed to retrieve it. Trusting this seemingly innocuous request, the employee allowed him and his companion to enter, unaware of the peril that lay ahead.
As the trio reached the store's safe, the suspects swiftly loaded a substantial $1,200 in cash into a bag. Shockingly, the situation escalated when the suspect used his firearm to violently assault the employee, striking them on the neck and elbow, as detailed in the police report. Courageous Bystander Robbery Attempt in Ft. Lauderdale.
However, unbeknownst to the suspect and his partner in crime, a neighboring store owner situated within the shopping complex became aware of the disturbance and acted swiftly.
Upon entering the store, this vigilant individual immediately spotted the suspect brandishing a firearm and reacted decisively. Demanding that he relinquish the weapon and lay on the floor, the brave Samaritan's commands were heeded by the suspect, while the other suspect fled the scene.
With nerves of steel, the armed Samaritan maintained control over the suspect at gunpoint until law enforcement arrived at the scene, ensuring the suspect was unable to escape. Courageous Bystander Robbery Attempt in Ft. Lauderdale.
The suspect was subsequently taken into custody without the possibility of bail. He now faces a litany of charges, including armed robbery, aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, grand theft of a firearm, and illegally carrying a concealed firearm. Notably, the firearm used by the suspect during the attempted robbery was reported as stolen, according to the police. Courageous Bystander Robbery Attempt in Ft. Lauderdale.
As of now, there is no additional information available regarding the whereabouts or identity of the accomplice involved in this harrowing incident. Ft. Lauderdale residents and business owners are commending the swift and brave actions of the vigilant bystander who stepped up to protect their community in a moment of crisis.
Courageous Bystander Robbery Attempt in Ft. Lauderdale.
