Shocking moment thug robs elderly woman minutes after she collected lottery winnings
Shocking moment thug robs elderly woman minutes after she collected lottery winnings
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Sickening video shows the moment a man violently attacked and robbed an 83-year-old woman just moments after she collected lottery winnings. Diego Tavarez Fleury, 24, was taken into custody after the incident outside Buddy's Food and Lotto in Orlando, Florida, on January 15 CCTV footage captured the moment he approached Ruth Monroe as she was getting in a car. He is then seen attempting to snatch the woman's winnings before being confronted by the store manager.
Speaking to NBC affiliate WESH, a shaken Ruth said: "I'm 83, I've never gotten punched. But that look on his face - he was about ready to, you know - and that's when he pulled it out of my hand and went that way." Although the suspect initially appeared to step back, he lunged at Monroe again - resulting in a struggle that dragged him to the ground and left the woman with an injured hand.
The store manager and an employee attempted to intervene but despite their best efforts, Fleury escaped with approximately $200 he had stolen from the pensioner. Orange County deputies said they had received a tip that Fleury was hiding in his mom's home and planning to fly back to the Dominican Republic.
And when cops found him, Fleury tried attempted to flee but was swiftly arrested and detained. Fleury is charged with robbery and battery. He is also being tried for possession of cocaine and other illicit drug paraphernalia. In a heart-warming moment though, when Ruth returned to the gas station the next morning, a customer who overheard her situation gifted her a $250 check along with some lottery tickets.
