Shopper attacked in parking lot; witness intervenes


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MIDVALE -- A Midvale shopper was attacked while loading bags into her car Wednesday night. Police said the suspect was after the woman's purse, but another shopper came to her rescue before she was seriously injured.

"The victim was actually struck one time by the suspect with an elbow to the face," said Sgt. Marcelo Rapela with the Midvale Police Department.

Rapela said had it not been for another shopper coming to the victim's aide at the Walmart parking lot at 7250 S. Union Park Ave., the outcome may have been a lot different.

"We certainly believe that person that intervened was a key element in stopping this crime from continuing," he said.

Shopper attacked in parking lot; witness intervenes

Police said just before 8 p.m. a woman in her 40s was in the parking lot loading up bags from her shopping trip when another woman in her 20s walked up behind her and threatened her with a gun she claimed she had in her pocket.

The attacker said she wanted woman's purse, but when the victim refused to give it to her, the attacker struck her in the face.

"There was a struggle," said Rapela. "The victim and the suspect went to the ground."

Just as the scuffle began, another shopper saw the commotion and realized the woman was being attacked. That shopper ran towards the woman to help her, and in the process scared the attacker away.

"Officers immediately came to the area. We set up a containment and deployed our K-9, but we were unable to locate a suspect at this time," Rapela said.

Police said Walmart's surveillance cameras did catch video of the attack. They're now in the process of reviewing it to see if it's clear enough to identify the person responsible.

Rapela said, "Hopefully we can view that video, enhance the image and get that person's picture out."

Police released a description of the attacker. She is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall with a thin build and long brown hair. Police said she wearing a green and turquoise parka with a fur lined hood at the time of the attack.

Police said if caught, the suspect will be charged with attempted robbery and possibly assault.

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Story compiled with contributions from Shara Park and Randall Jeppesen.

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