Elderly man attacks home invader

(Westbury - WABC, November 28, 2007) (WABC) -- A young gang member who appeared to have a gun tried to rob what he thought was an easy target.

But the 72-year-old man tackled the 21-year-old suspect and chased him out of his home in Westbury.

And then came another shocker.

Long Island reporter Emily Smith has the story.

Authorities say the elderly victim isn't much of a victim. Cops say he successfully fought off a much younger gang member who held what appeared to be a handgun to his head.

At 72 years old, Reinaldo Herrara has a grip even he wasn't sure he still had until he came face to face with an armed robber inside his own home.

"He said, 'Be quiet, be quiet, don't say nothing, because I don't want to kill you,'" Herrara said. "He saw my ring, my watch."

Herrara wasn't willing to give it up, so he somehow found the power to knock the young robber to the ground. Police say it wasn't just any robber, but a gang member named Santo Zelaya. Herrera says Zelaya even pointed a gun to his head and tried to wrestle him.

"He kicked me...I kicked him back," Herrara said.

Even more unbelievable to Herrara was the second man arrested. It's his own nephew.

Police say 47-year-old Jorge Duque paid the alleged gang member $500 to rob his uncle, and even waited in a getaway car.

"I can't believe, can't believe," Herrara said. "But I have to now to believe it because I saw the picture."

The break-in happened yesterday afternoon at Herrara's home in Westbury, while he was stringing Christmas lights. He says other than a few cuts and scrapes, he's OK. But even he can't believe he found the strength to fight like he did.

"I don't want to die," he said. "I don't want to die, no."

It turns out the gun wasn't a handgun, but an unloaded BB gun. Thankfully, cops patrolling the neighborhood made a quick arrest on both men after Herrara called 911.

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•