Armed Brockton robber throws orange at fearless owner
Around 9:45 p.m. Sunday, police were called to Chico's convenience store, 330 N. Main St. for a report of a robbery.
A man walked into the store wearing all black clothes and a mask covering the bottom of his face and told store owner, Jose Velasquez, he wanted to make a purchase, but then walked out of the store instead, police said.
As soon as he left, another masked man walked in and pointed a gun at Velasquez's head and told him to give him his money, police said.
Velasquez refused and the man leaned over the counter to try and open the cash register but was unsuccessful.
Velasquez, 60, who said he is also a pastor at a Brockton church, said it was the power of prayer that kept him safe during the ordeal.
"He came in with a gun, he covered his mouth and he said 'Give me the money or I'm going to kill you,' " he said in Spanish, translated into English by his friend Christian Castello. "I'm a pastor. I said 'In Jesus' name, get out of here.' I said it three times and he stopped. The third time he shook his head and he went back and I tried to push him out."
Velasquez went around the counter toward the masked man, who picked up an orange and threw it, striking Velasquez in the face, police said.
source: wickedlocal.com
