“Samaritans save bell ringer” : 68-Year-Old Salvation Army Bell Ringer Attacked in Hillsborough County Shopping Plaza

Accident – Death – Obituary News : **Salvation Army Bell Ringer Attacked in Hillsborough County: Brave Samaritans Come to Her Rescue**

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFTS) – A shocking incident unfolded in a bustling shopping plaza, as a courageous 68-year-old Salvation Army bell ringer became the victim of an attempted robbery. However, her misfortune was swiftly met with the intervention of two compassionate individuals who came to her aid.

The distressing incident occurred on Monday afternoon when Billie Richert, a dedicated bell ringer for the Salvation Army, was targeted in the vicinity of the Publix store on Boyette Road in Riverview. After finishing her noble task of ringing bells for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign, Richert was ambushed by a man demanding her car keys.

In a moment of sheer vulnerability, Richert found herself caught off guard by the assailant’s sudden approach. “You think you’re going to have time to react, but you really don’t. It happened so quickly,” she recounted.

Captured by the surveillance cameras of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the footage reveals the suspect, later identified as Robert Moore, sitting on the curb. As Richert innocently walked by, Moore brazenly demanded her car keys, displaying a complete disregard for her safety.

Refusing to succumb to fear, Richert sternly warned the assailant that she would defend herself with pepper spray. However, her defiance was met with an unexpected act of aggression, as Moore callously threw her to the ground.

In the midst of the bustling parking lot, the commotion caused by Richert’s distress caught the attention of nearby customers. Their ears filled with her desperate screams for help.

“I could have broken a bone. I could have cracked my skull. He could have stabbed me,” Richert expressed, acknowledging the potential severity of the situation. “But then I had a friend that I didn’t even know who caught him and detained him. He was my angel.”

Remarkably, her guardian angel turned out to be a good Samaritan who had served over a decade in the U.S. Army. Though he preferred to remain anonymous, this selfless individual admitted that he was grateful to have been there at the right moment to lend a hand.

Another courageous man also joined the effort to restrain the suspect until law enforcement officers arrived on the scene. Richert expressed her profound gratitude towards these unsung heroes, emphasizing the incredible act of kindness and bravery they displayed. “For somebody to get involved in something that they know nothing about and to help somebody, especially an elderly person. It was fantastic. It really was. Thank you,” she gratefully acknowledged.

Following the incident, Robert Moore was promptly apprehended and booked into jail. He now faces charges that include battery and robbery, as the authorities seek justice for Richert’s terrifying ordeal.

“I’m not going to let him steal my joy. Not at all,” Richert defiantly declared, demonstrating her resilience in the face of adversity.

The heartwarming story of bravery and community support serves as a reminder that amidst the darkness, there are individuals who are willing to step up and protect others, even in unfamiliar circumstances. Richert’s determination to rise above the traumatic incident is a testament to the indomitable spirit that resides within us all..