CAUGHT ON TAPE: Robber Prays With Clerk
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CAUGHT ON TAPE: Robber Prays With Clerk
Caught on tape...a very unusual robbery. When someone behind a cash register is confronted by an armed robber, there are several things they can do. They can try to call police, they can hand over...
Caught on tape…a very unusual robbery. When someone behind a cash register is confronted by an armed robber, there are several things they can do. They can try to call police, they can hand over the money, or they can fight back. But, a clerk in Indianapolis did something else…she convinced the gunman…to pray. ABC News Andrea Canning has the story.
Published: October 21, 2009
Indianapolis, IN—It’s a robbery that started out like any other…
Police say 23-year-old Gregory Smith jumps the counter at this Indianapolis check cashing store, while pointing a gun at the clerk, Angela Montez…who can be heard on the 911 call: “I think he knew where the button was because he had me move away, right away. The panic button…He kept the gun pointed at me until he came around and jumped the counter.“
But, within just 8 seconds, you might say divine intervention takes over…Montez begins talking to smith about God.
Montez, 911 call” “I started crying and praying and telling him, ‘don’t do this,‘ he was too young to throw away his life. He talked to me a little bit.“
Andrea Canning, reporting: “In a bizarre twist, Smith consoles Montez and apologizes, telling her he doesn’t want to do it, but times are hard and he has a two-year-old son to support.“
He drops to his knees, they pray together for 10 minutes…and then the two strangers can actually be seen hugging each other…then in the ultimate act of faith…he takes the only bullet out of his gun, and gives it to her.
Montez, 911 call: “He took the bullet out of the gun and said, ‘here, I’m not going to hurt you, I’m not going to hurt you.‘ And so, I’ve got the bullet here.“
Smith and Montez talk for 30 more minutes about his hardships, which leads to a change of heart…he takes only $20…leaving the rest of the cash behind.
Lt. Jeff Duhammell, Indianapolis Police Department: “How people react, we just don’t know until they’re faced with it. She did an extremely good job, and should be commended for her actions.“
Police say Smith confessed, Tuesday, at the urging of his mother, who saw the video on the news and asked him to do the right thing…something he’s clearly getting used to.
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