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A seemingly routine visit to a Florida convenience store turned violent for an 83-year-old woman, leaving her dragged from her car moments after picking up her Florida Lottery winnings. The shocking footage shows the victim fighting to hold onto her prize as a man in an orange jacket aggressively tries to make off with the cash.
But this crime didn't go unnoticed — thanks to the quick action of the community and a helpful employee, the suspect didn't get far. Now, police have announced the suspect has been arrested.
The attack
Around 8:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, the victim had collected some $200 in apparent lottery winnings at Buddy's Food and Lotto, located at 7219 Curry Ford Road in Orlando, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities obtained surveillance footage from the area, which showed the elderly woman walking out of the convenience store and toward her vehicle. Not far behind her, the alleged suspect can be seen in what appears to be an orange jacket walking towards the entrance.
The video then shows the woman opening her car door and the man in the orange jacket approaching her. He appears to try and grab something from her. Seconds later, the store's manager can be seen walking out of the convenience store while holding some sort of item.
The manager and the suspect appear to talk briefly before the suspect aggressively grabs the woman from behind as the manager tries to intervene.
The elderly woman is pulled from her vehicle and falls to the ground during the struggle. The manager was trying to hold the suspect down, but he was able to break free. He runs away and out of the frame of the video.
The suspect is identified
Officials from the Orange County Sheriff's Office used the surveillance footage and the help of the community to identify the suspect as Diego Stalin Tavarez Fleury. Authorities said he is known to frequent the area.
Police issued an arrest warrant on charges of robbery, sudden snatching, and battery on a person 65 or older. On Thursday, January 16, police announced that Fleury was arrested and booked into the county jail.
'He's a very, very nice guy'
An employee at Buddy's Food and Lotto, Aesun Lee, talked with FOX 13 and confirmed the man who tried to help in the video was the store's manager.
"He's a very, very, nice guy," said Lee. "Whatever he can do, he tries to help everybody. Something like this especially."
Lee said they've had issues with Fleury in the past and that he hangs out in front of the store every day. As far as the victim goes, Lee said she is a regular customer. "She's a very nice old lady," said Lee. "She comes in almost every day."
Hopefully, the elderly woman wasn't holding onto any Florida Lotto tickets for last night's drawing, as Fleury could have stolen a big jackpot winner!
Enjoy playing the Florida Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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