FRANKLIN, Ohio -- A gun-wielding witness interrupted a purse snatching in progress Monday morning and frightened the suspect away, according to a news release from the Franklin Police Department.
Police documents indicate that the 84-year-old victim walking on North Main Street when an armed man grabbed her purse and began to run.
"I look out my driver’s door and I noticed a little lady running with her arms up," said Mary Moore, who was driving to pick up her grandchildren from school. By the time Moore stopped to help, the victim had given up the chase. "She could not keep up with him any longer.”
Moore said she then followed the suspect in her car and attempted to negotiate with him multiple times. When it became clear that he was threatening others with his gun, Moore pulled out her own.
When Moore's weapon came out, the suspect dropped the purse and ran, according to the news release. The victim’s purse was recovered with all its contents intact.
"It’s the right thing to do," Moore said. "We got to look out for each other. There is so much bad in the world now.”
The suspect, however, was not found. Police encouraged anyone with information about the incident to call Detective Scott Brown at 937-746-2882.
