8-year-old girl helps father fend off armed shop robber: police
An 8-year-old girl helped her father fight off an armed robber at a Minnesota store (WCCO/YouTube).
Sometimes little girls can hit pretty hard. An armed robber at a liquor store in Minnesota learned that the hard way over the weekend.
According to an arrest affidavit, a man wearing an Amazon vest, later identified as 38-year-old Conchobhar Morrell, entered Big Discount Liquors in Maplewood around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. After looking at some items, Morrell approached the clerk and allegedly placed a bottle of liquor and an air rifle that looked like a real firearm on the counter. He demanded all the money from the register.
“I told him, yes, I’ll give you everything,” the store manager, identified as Leo, told CBS affiliate WCCO in Minneapolis.
Leo’s daughter was also behind him and he told the suspect he could have whatever he wanted as long as he didn’t hurt his daughter. Morrell then allegedly went behind the counter to steal cash.
“I’m a father. I won’t let that happen,” Leo said.
Video obtained by WCCO shows Leo punching Morrell in the face and the two getting into a scuffle. As they wrestle on the ground, Leo’s daughter comes to the rescue armed with a baseball bat. She approaches the robber and begins to beat him. After a few blows, she backs away as Morrell scurries away.
“I’m so proud of her. She is so strong,” Leo said.
Maplewood Police officers arrived and arrested Morrell, who they saw walking a few hundred yards north of the store. The clerk positively identified Morrell as the suspect. After the Miranda confirmation, Morrell reportedly admitted to working for Amazon but denied being in the store or carrying a pellet gun.
Police took Morrell to the Ramsey County Jail, where he is being held on $40,000 bail for attempted aggravated robbery. An Amazon spokesperson told WCCO that Morrell is under contract through a third-party company and will no longer deliver packages for the company.
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