Video shows violent robbery of 83-year-old woman who had just claimed Florida lotto money
An 83-year-old woman was robbed of her lottery winnings shortly after she claimed the money from a convenience store in Florida.
The woman was leaving a convenience store in Orlando on Wednesday morning after claiming her win when a man violently attacked her and robbed her, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
Security camera footage released by the police shows a man approaching the woman just as she about to get into her car and attempting to grab what looks to be money out of her hand. But the woman resists, pulls away and holds on tight to the money.
Just then, another man comes out of the store and apparently tries to diffuse the situation. That's when the suspect, who had have backed off for a second, jumps at the woman and grabs at the money. The good Samaritan grabs the thief from behind and tries to pull him away from the woman, who falls to the ground. The men continue to tussle as the thief pulls the money from the woman, who appears to be dragged as she tries to hold onto it.
The thief then runs away, with the good Samaritan following close behind, but he gets away.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office told USA TODAY on Thursday that the woman said the man got away with about $200 in her purse, though it was unclear how much of that was her windfall from the lottery.
Video shows man snatching woman's lottery win
Police make arrest in woman's robbery
Police identified the suspect in the case as Diego Stalin Tavarez Fleury, who has since been arrested on charges of robbery, sudden snatching and battery on someone over the age of 65, the sheriff's office said in an update Thursday.
The State Attorney's Office, which ultimately will decide whether to charge Fleury and with what, did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment Thursday.
USA TODAY was working to identify whether Fleury has an attorney but could not immediately find one listed in court records or elsewhere on Thursday.
A sheriff's spokesperson said Fleury was caught after a member of the community sent in a tip on his whereabouts.
The spokesperson said they believe any injuries the woman sustained are minor.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Video shows 83-year-old Florida woman being robbed after lottery win