An 83-year-old woman in Florida was robbed of her lottery winnings shortly after claiming the money from a convenience store in Orlando. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office reported that the woman had just left the store on Wednesday morning when a man violently attacked her to steal her money.
Security camera footage released by the police captured the disturbing incident. It showed a man approaching the woman as she was about to enter her car, attempting to grab what appeared to be money from her hand. Despite the assailant’s aggression, the woman resisted, managing to pull away and tightly hold onto her winnings.
A bystander emerged from the store, seemingly trying to intervene and calm the situation. However, the suspect, who had momentarily backed off, suddenly lunged at the woman again in a desperate attempt to snatch the money. The courageous bystander swiftly intervened, grabbing the thief from behind in an effort to protect the woman. In the struggle that ensued, the thief forcibly took the money from the woman, who was seen being dragged as she desperately clung to her earnings.
With the money in hand, the thief fled the scene, with the brave bystander in pursuit. Unfortunately, the thief managed to escape, eluding capture at that time.
Authorities later identified the suspect as Diego Stalin Tavarez Fleury. He was subsequently arrested on charges including robbery, sudden snatching, and battery on a person over the age of 65. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office provided an update on the case, indicating that Fleury was apprehended following a tip from a concerned member of the community.
In response to the incident, the State Attorney’s Office is expected to determine the formal charges to be brought against Fleury. At the time of reporting, there was no immediate response from the State Attorney’s Office regarding the case.
Efforts to ascertain whether Fleury had legal representation were ongoing. However, no attorney representing Fleury was identified in court records or other public sources at that time.
A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office mentioned that they believed the injuries sustained by the elderly woman were minor in nature. The incident sparked outrage and concern within the community, highlighting the vulnerability of seniors to such acts of violence.
Saman Shafiq, a news reporter for USA TODAY, provided updates on the incident. For further inquiries, she can be reached at sshafiq@gannett.com, and her work can be followed on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram.
This report originally featured on USA TODAY and detailed the distressing ordeal faced by the 83-year-old woman who was targeted following her lottery win.
