Stranger Thwarts Attack On Best Buy Employee

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - WESH.com

A Good Samaritan jumped into action to help a Best Buy employee who was being attacked in the store's parking lot over the weekend.

WESH 2 News reporter Craig Lucie spoke with both men in Altamonte Springs on Sunday.

It was the first week on the job for Shawn Roberts. He said he was on his break and had just stepped outside to talk to his girlfriend on the phone when two men tapped him on his shoulder and then attacked him.

"We were trained to fight. I'm trained to kill if I need to," Roberts said.

The 26-year-old has been to 16 countries while serving as a Marine for three years.

"Now my pride's hurt more than anything," he said.

He has a wound over his left eye after trying to fight off the two men, who tried to rob him on Saturday at about 4 p.m.

"They demanded my money and my wallet and my cell phone," Roberts said. "I told them where they could shove it, and, in turn, they turned around and hit me on the side of the head."

Roberts said the men had two toy guns that they pulled on him before hitting him with their fists.

"Actually, a customer came out of his car with his girlfriend," he said.

That customer was Valencia Community College student Richard Julian.

"I didn't hesitate. I just got out as soon as I saw what was going on," he said.

Julian said he knows martial arts.

"But I haven't really been taught how to disarm attackers," he said.

He didn't have to, though, because the men fled when they saw him coming. For that, Roberts had something to tell the so-called hero.

"Hey Richard, once again, I really do appreciate it," he said. "You did save my life yesterday, and I do want to thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Julian said it was a natural reaction.

"I just help people if they need it," he said.

The two men got away with Roberts' cell phone, and Altamonte Springs police are still looking for them.

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