http://www.albanyherald.com/home/headlines/80761722.html
At 1:12 a.m. Monday, officers responded to the 1900 block of Skylane Drive in reference to an armed robbery. Deidra McMillian, 30, went to her car to retrieve a box of clothes. As she was returning to enter her home, she was approached by a male armed with a handgun. When he demanded money, she gave him an undetermined amount from her purse, a news release from the Albany Police Department said.
Jerone Loren, 36, who is disabled and wheelchair bound, heard the commotion and went outside to tell the suspect there was more money inside.
"When I heard the door open, she was screaming," he recalled Tuesday. "I acted like I had what he wanted."
After the armed robber was given more money, he and Loren went into the bathroom as McMillian stayed on the line with police. At one point during the altercation, the couple said the suspect pointed a gun at McMillian's child.
As the suspect turned to close the bathroom door, Loren grabbed the gun and held him at gunpoint until officers arrived.
Loren and McMillian feel they may have been victimized as a result of a third party coaxing the suspect.
"He felt like we had money in here," Loren said. "He is a young kid; he didn't know what he was doing. Someone sent him in here. Someone coaxed him.
"There could be more people behind this crime. I feel like it might be an ongoing problem."
At some point, crime victims need to stand up for themselves, Loren said.
"He thought I was helpless," Loren said.
Loren was visiting McMillian at the time of the incident. Both are concerned about the crime rate in the area, and that the patrol traffic needs to be heavier.
"They need to make an example of people breaking into houses," McMillian said. "I'm scared to stay here by myself. (The suspect) could have killed me."
If he could do it again, Loren said he wouldn't hesitate to handle the situation the same way he did Monday.
"I don't want to die, but I have no fear of dying," he said.