'Ma'am, I don't want to do this either.' He said, 'Times are bad, times are really hard'."

[Contrary1]

:cry: I wish this man had knocked on my door. I would have given him the $20.

Indianapolis - A terrified woman's compassionate words brought an armed robber to his knees in prayer.

Police say what cameras caught is something they've never seen before. The armed robbery unfolded at the Advance America Cash Store on East Washington Street Monday afternoon.

That's when police say 23-year-old Gregory Smith walked into the store and pointed a gun at clerk Angie Montez. Surveillance video of the store shows Smith going around the counter to confront Montez.

"I was like, please don't do this. I have grand babies. I have family. I have loved ones. I don't want to die. I don't want to die," Montez says of the robbery. "He said, 'Ma'am, I don't want to do this either.' He said, 'Times are bad, times are really hard'."

<snip>

"He was heartbroken. He was crying and he told me he didn't want to do this," Montez described. "He said, 'I've got to have this money by 4 o'clock, or I will be on the streets with my baby'. He said he'd been looking for a job for months."


More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33408130

[spoony]

1. This is such a remarkable story

I don't even have the words for how deeply I feel about it. It so fits our times, I know it'll stick with me.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. He gave her the bullet.

My God.

Amazing...


K&R

[REP]

3. Too bad he thought terrifying a store clerk during a robbery was a good idea

How many other equally desperate people don't resort to such despicable actions? Thousands? They have my sympathy; this man does not.

[Chulanowa]

4. My thoughts as well

I've been down and out, and I've known way too many people who have had it worse than myself. Turning to violent crime never entered the picture. A few sold drugs. One girl sold herself - I'd never recommend these measures myself, unless the only other option would be shoving a gun in someone's face and demanding cash.

I'm no believer in bootstrap levitation. But there are ways to manage without resorting to motherfucking robbery.

[hfojvt]

5. a store clerk?

For a loan-sharking operation. I have more respect for him than I do for her.

[lillypaddle]

7. Maybe it was the only job she could find

sheesh.

[rucky]

10. I don't think he thought about that at all.

I've heard that when in a situation like that, you talk about your family and say/do anything else the would humanize you. The mind of a person pointing a gun isn't rational, but it's often a temporary state and if that person is the slightest bit coherent there's a chance the victim can get through to them.

[OHdem10]

6. During the great Depression situations like this happened.

People would actually come to doors and people would share what
they had.

[whathehell]

8. In the end, he did the right thing...I found this story extremely touching.

[lpbk2713]

9. Meanwhile, Bush & Cheney are living large.

They couldn't even relate to someone in this situation if they had to. If the corrupt and
evil BushCo Regime hasn't been held accountable by now it looks like they never will be.

[nilram]

11. He's got a bed in a jail cell now; I think it's worked out for him very well.

Sorry, I just had to do my Barbara Bush impersonation.

Edit to add it was a very moving story.

[Barack_America]

13. And it's probably fun for him, like camping.

[SidneyCarton]

12. Desperation drives decent people to do awful things.

The lady in question scratched the surface and found the decent man within, we are far gone when it's come to this.