Paterson New Jersey police are investigated a recent theft attempt on a city street.
According to law enforcement, the scary incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. near the intersection of Ellison Street and Rosa Parks Boulevard in Paterson, New Jersey.
The victim, a 62-year-old man who lives in Paterson, was walking on the sidewalk when two men reportedly approached him. One of the men allegedly brandished a handgun, pointed it at the victim s face, and threatened to shoot him if he did not hand over his wallet and cash.
Remarkably, the elderly victim was able to fend off the suspects by using his umbrella. The victim told the suspects that they would have to kill him if they wanted to steal his money.
The victim then struck the gunman with the item, prompting both suspects to turn and run away. They were last seen heading down Broadway in Paterson NJ.
The victim later dialed 911 and alerted the Paterson Police Department. Paterson police officers were sent to the area to search for the suspects, but they had no luck finding them.
At this time, law enforcement has yet to identify either of the suspects in the theft attempt.
If police can eventually determine the identities of the suspects, it is likely that the men would face criminal charges for armed robbery and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
A conviction on the most serious charges of robbery could result in severe penalties. That s because N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1 classifies robbery as a first degree felony when the culprit used a deadly weapon such as a handgun or a knife. A conviction for first degree armed robbery could lead to a sentence of 10-20 years in NJ State Prison.
For more information about this case, go to the NJ.com article, “Umbrella-Wielding Man Fights off Armed Robber in Paterson, Cops Say.”
