New York Woman Calls Thug's Bluff During Armed Robbery Attempt
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A New York woman recently survived a run-in with an armed robber after courageously calling his bluff.
"It saved my life," a visibly shaken Annie Graham told CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez.
Around 1 a.m. on July 3, Graham, 54, was outside smoking a cigarette near a car on Grand Street when a man demanded her wallet.
"I though he was kidding, because I said 'are you kidding me? What wallet? I'm smoking a cigarette in my pajamas, I don't have anything,'" she explained.
At that point the alleged mugger pulled a gun, stuck it against Graham's head and chest, and threatened to shoot.
"When the gun went against my forehead I understood it's not a joke," Graham said. "He lowered the gun against my chest. And he goes 'I will shoot you.' I said 'to shoot someone you really have to have balls, and it doesn't look like you have any.' Once I said that I said (expletive)."
Graham said she argued with her alleged assailant while a second suspect emerged and encouraged his friend to fire. Graham's friend also came outside and tried to intervene but was thrown to the ground by the second suspect who grabbed the woman's bag and ran off.
About an hour after the robbers attacked Graham, police said the suspects robbed a 34-year-old man on East 25th Street and Second Avenue. Police believe the same group is responsible for at least eight muggings in Manhattan and Queens.
Investigators said surveillance images show the two men and one woman involved in the attacks, Sanchez reported.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly commended Graham's bravery but advised against that type of response to an armed robbery.
"Hats off to her but it's not something I would advise people in general to do," he said.
Graham echoed those sentiments.
"If anybody asks me what should we do in your place? I say, you have a bag? Give it up. You have anything to give? Give it up and pray. Because it's not worth a human life," she said. "I had nothing to give."
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