MAPLEWOOD, Minnesota — Things are back to normal after a huge scandal at Big Discount Liquors in Maplewood. An armed robber was beaten back by an 8-year-old girl with her baseball bat.
Conchobhar Morrell, 37, of St. Paul was charged Monday in Ramsey County with attempted first-degree aggravated robbery.
According to charging documents, Morrell’s criminal record includes a conviction for first-degree aggravated robbery in 2004.
Surveillance video from the store shows Morrell, wearing an Amazon uniform, reaching into his pocket and placing a realistic air rifle on the counter.
According to an Amazon spokesperson, Morrell worked as a delivery driver for a third-party delivery service and delivered packages for Amazon. He will be “terminated immediately.”
Store manager Leo said he was preparing to close the store around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday when Morrell came in and strolled through the store.
“He (Morrell) put the gun on the table and asked me to give him all the money and everything in the cash register. I told him: yes, I’ll give you everything,” Leo said.
Behind the counter, next to Leo, stood his 8-year-old daughter.
Leo said he tried to talk sense into Morrell, explaining that he could have all the money and that his only concern was his daughter’s safety.
Surveillance video shows Morrell walking behind the counter with a gun in his hand.
“I’m a father, I won’t allow this,” Leo said.
Leo hits the man and wrestles him to the ground. Seconds later, his brave little girl is seen with a bat in her hand.
“I’m so proud of her, she’s so strong,” Leo said.
His daughter hit the suspect a few times before running away. Leo said he didn’t even know she was trying to help until he watched the surveillance video again.
“That day, I just wanted to cry. When I saw the video, I didn’t expect her to do that. I expected a little girl crying and screaming,” Leo said.
Leo said he asked his daughter the next day what made her do that. She told him she wanted to defend him and that she loved him so much.
It is an incredible act of heroism by a little girl who saw that her father needed help.
Morrell has been in custody since Tuesday evening and will appear in court again on Friday at 9 a.m.
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