A day after an armed robber allegedly attempted to rob a clothing store only to be stopped by several citizens, including the owner of the shop, the storekeeper says he is still in disbelief.
Ken Quan told CTV Toronto that after opening his store on Thursday, a woman he said he had never seen before walked in and pulled a .40-calibre assault rifle from a shopping bag.
"She asked for the money and pulled the gun on me and I gave her the money," Quan said.
He said the woman took several thousand dollars from the till and attempted to exit the store, located in Jane Street and Sheppard Avenue West area, only to be bolted in by the automatic locking doors.
Quan said he let the woman out and followed her outside where he tackled her.
"She bit me here," Quan said, showing CTV's Scott Lightfoot a dark bruise on the inside of his right arm.
Quan said the woman fought back and at that point a couple walking by saw them wrestling. They tried to help and at least one other man also joined in.
"She has a gun! She has a gun! Call the police!" yelled a female passerby involved in the struggle, according to some YouTube video shot at the scene.
The passerby then grabbed the assault rifle away from the suspect and tossed it on the ground, where it was quickly surrounded by other bystanders.
Upon arriving, police say they arrested the woman, seizing both the rifle and some cash.
On Friday, Toronto police said in a news release that the citizens who helped apprehend the suspect will likely earn a citation.
"We want to thank the people who assisted in the arrest," said Const. Tony Vella.
Lashawn Walters, 26, of Toronto, faces the following charges:
- robbery while armed with a firearm
- unauthorized possession of a firearm
- possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized
- assault with intent to resist arrest
She was scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
No allegations against Walters have been proven in a court of law.
With a report from CTV's Scott Lightfoot
