A terrifying alleged robbery and attack happened at Jarek’s Market in Fall River, Massachusetts. A man wearing a mask and hood, later identified as Jose Tirado-Sanchez, 36, entered the store, jumped onto the counter and began swinging a large knife while demanding money.
However, surveillance video of the incident shows that the convenience store owner surprised the attacker, by pulling a large knife of his own. The store owner simultaneously retrieved cash from the register.
Both men swung knives at each other for nearly a minute. The suspect stood on the counter, swinging his knife and kicking wildly at the clerk. The store owner then went around the counter to continue the fight, whereupon the suspect knocked over a snack stand to obstruct his path.
The fight continued in an aisle. The alleged robber threw a can of food at the victim, who bravely charged after the suspect with a knife.
The fight then moved to the store’s front door, where the suspect managed to obtain the clerk’s knife, before running out of the store. The suspect left behind a bicycle that he had arrived on minutes earlier used minutes earlier.
“During the struggle, the owner managed to knock the knife out of the suspect’s hand and at the same time dropped the knife he was holding,” said the police in a statement. “The suspect rearmed himself with the owner’s knife and continued the attack until ultimately running from the business.”
Neither the store owner nor the alleged armed robber was seriously hurt during the fight, although the victim suffered scratches on his face and arms, according to Fall River police Lt. Ronald Furtado said.
Of course I was scared, said the victim. But I didn’t have a choice. What am I gonna do?
I had to do what I had to do to protect myself.”
Th victim did not want his name published.
The next day an alert officer spotted and arrested a man fitting the physical and clothing description of the robbery subject. Tirado-Sanchez was taken into custody, and faces multiple charges including armed robbery while masked, armed assault to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and vandalism of property.
