Posted on Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 7:49 a.m.
Woman punches gun-wielding attacker
By Cindy Heflin
A woman fought off a gun-wielding man who tried to force her to take him somewhere in a car Sunday evening, Ypsilanti police said.
The woman told police a man came up to her and pointed a gun at her in the 200 block of North Huron Street in Ypsilanti shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday. He demanded she drive him somewhere, but she refused, punching the man and yelling for help, police said in a media summary.
The man ran, firing the gun twice, police said. The weapon was not loud, and police said it might have been a BB gun.
Police searched for the man but weren’t able to find him.
Comments
Madeleine Borthwick
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:38 p.m.
Dear brave lady: you are an inspiration to me. GOOD FOR YOU!
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:01 p.m.
Very, very glad this woman survived without harm. Self defense "takes a little thinking" and in this case, it was just luck that the assailant wasn't armed with a real gun. Use anything you can - very much including that weapon known as "your brain" to escape from threats. Stories about such successful escapes from harm too often provoke needless (perhaps heedless) "recommendations" for specific self defense weapons or tactics. Truth: because circumstances and individual capabilities vary so widely, it's not good to make such recommendations because they may give the uninformed the impression that a certain type of self defense works for everyone, every time. Knowledge is your best weapon. Preparation is your best defense.
gladys
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 4:27 p.m.
I'm glad the woman is ok. For the future, I would highly recommend that she get some pepper spray and have it on her keychain. Spray first, then kick and stomp!
Cathy
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 10:37 p.m.
True fact: the best way to prevent crime is to keep criminals in prison.
Madeleine Borthwick
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:36 p.m.
maybe stomp several times for emphasis.....right where it counts.....
dading dont delete me bro
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 4:07 p.m.
no witnesses? c'mon, this was just after heritage festival was over and huron was littered with people. i know cuz i was driving 'up' huron about that time.
Jay Thomas
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:22 p.m.
Another great description! I hope we find this "man"...
WalkingJoe
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.
@Cash, I still don't think this was just a "eye-catching headline". While I do agree that annarbor.com leaves a lot to be desired as a news source, I feel that this story was important in that a woman fighting off a gun toting assailant is news even if the gun was perhaps a pellet gun. What would you have said if this hadn't turned out the way it did and the woman was forced to drive somewhere only to be raped or God forbid killed? Would you then say it was just an eye-catching headline? As I said earlier people need to be aware of things like this happening.
WalkingJoe
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:59 p.m.
Ok, I give up.
Cash
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
Click on the Crime heading and look at what is reported on (other than the Van Buren multiple stories). Then compare it to the crime map....if the reporting satisfies you, fine.
redwingshero
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:53 p.m.
Never bring gun to a fist fight?
Billy
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:11 p.m.
"The man ran, firing the gun twice, police said. The weapon was not loud, and police said it might have been a BB gun." Airsoft I bet. Pretty sure those airguns classify as a firearm here in Michigan...and ANYTHING classifies as a firearm if you wield and present it as such (such as a candy bar in a pocket.)
David Cahill
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1 p.m.
Good for her!
jns131
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:57 p.m.
I know and agree with your comment. You go girl!
EyeHeartA2
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:59 p.m.
@cash: The link you reference doesn't show Ypsi crime, so that might be one reason. One can only speculate as to why Ypsi does not choose to use this service that all the surrounding area uses. Instead, they choose to use this cumbersome system that only allow you to choose either EMU or Ypsi, but not both, and only allows the mapping of two types of crimes at a time. Bizarre. Anyway, it would be nice if AA.com consolidated the whole thing into one map. However, to answer your first question, I think a lady fighting off a man with a is probably a whole lot more newsworthy than a link to a map. Cudo's to the brave lady. Hope they catch the guy. Of course a description of the guy might have been helpful. Nah.
City Confidential
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 5:54 p.m.
@Cash. I appreciate the link of the crime map. Unfortunately, the map actually does not cover the city of Ypsilanti. I just looked. It covers Ypsilanti Township, but not the city. Or else the city has absolutely zero crime within its borders... wouldn't that be nice? :)
Cash
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:54 p.m.
EyeHeart.....that map DOES cover a HUGE area....pan out on it! However, the map is not news....the stories behind all of these crimes IS news. That is what I'd like to read. If you don't, fine. Just don't look for eye-catching headlines.....report what is really going on crime-wise in Washtenaw County.
EyeHeartA2
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1 p.m.
sorry, here is the link: http://geodata.acad.emich.edu/Crime/Main.htm
RunsWithScissors
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
Yay! She put the "grrrr" back in girl. Don't mess with women, they rarely fight fair.
xmo
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:45 p.m.
Was this violence against men really needed? She could have asked him politely instead she turn to violence! Give peace a chance!
Madeleine Borthwick
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:35 p.m.
EXCUSE ME?!?!?! who was threatening violence with a loaded weapon?! you don't ask a gun-wielding " @%^%%^" politely please-sir-would-you-please-give-me-your-gun?' I am all for giving peace a chance but if someone threatens my life/well-being all bets are off!!!
KINGofSKA
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
Peace doesn't help when it comes to life or death. Ask any animal.
Dave
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:15 p.m.
Gotta assume you made this comment tongue-in-cheek!
Cash
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:35 p.m.
Why is this a front page story.....and not this? http://www.crimemapping.com/map/mi/annarbor We need to know more about the area crime situation than n attention grabber headline for the purpose of more hits. Maybe I'm the only one but since the WCSD stopped their alerts it makes FULL reporting of crimes in the area vital to public safety. It would be nice to see AnnArbor.,com take the lead.
jns131
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:58 p.m.
Cash is never strapped for cash because he is abundantly wealthy with knowledge. Keep up the good work.
Cash
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:51 p.m.
And did you notice that the map shows a large area? Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, etc...not just Ann Arbor? If you don't want good local crime coverage here, that's fine. I do.
Lizard
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 1:50 p.m.
I have crimemapping alerts and I love it. You can set it up not just for A2 but for Ypsi as well.
WalkingJoe
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:53 p.m.
Did you think maybe this was a headline so that people in the area aware that there is someone trying to force people into cars at gunpoint. And I notice your link is for Ann Arbor while this crime took place in Ypsilanti.
smokeblwr
Mon, Aug 20, 2012 : 12:21 p.m.
Sounds like she was able to control his gun with her fists. Awesome.