Video footage from a surveillance camera at an Alabama gas station captured the terrifying moment a woman was approached by a man, who launched an unprovoked attack and slammed her to the ground. Unfortunately for him, she wasn’t about to go down without a fight.
A Chevron gas station in Mobile, Alabama, became the scene of a terrifying attack on a Sunday evening when a man, later identified as 28-year-old Brandon Young, launched an unprovoked assault on an unsuspecting woman. The victim, who was not identified, had just pulled up to the gas pumps when she apparently caught Young’s eye. What happened next was captured on surveillance camera video.
As seen in the footage, the woman was at pump 6 at the Chevron station on Azalea Road as Brandon Young wandered around the parking lot. After she got out of the vehicle and began making her way towards the gas station store, Young saw an opportunity and ambushed the woman. Taking her by surprise, Young grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her into the air in an alleged attempt to rob her.
Unfortunately for the would-be robber, his intended victim wasn’t about to go down without a fight. Instead, the unnamed 28-year-old woman made a desperate attempt to fight off her attacker. As she tried to break free from Young’s grasp, her shoe is seen falling off as she is dangled above the ground, the Daily Mail reported. She then appears to slap Young across the face before being thrown to the ground.
After hitting the pavement, the woman immediately gets up, grabs her belongings from the ground, and chases after her attacker, WKRG reported. The pair then have a quick interaction again before Young walks towards the woman in a threatening manner as she backs away in fear. Young attempts to grab the woman one more time before she finally runs towards the store as the man flees the scene.
Police released the footage of the incident, which was then posted on social media by the woman’s stepmother, in hopes of raising awareness. Thanks to the video footage, the assailant was identified, and Brandon Young was arrested the following day and charged with felony third-degree robbery.
According to Nazmul Hasan, the gas station owner, Young has been known to frequent the store and was seen hanging around the area multiple times. He hopes the incident will prompt the Mobile Police to patrol the area more, especially since this isn’t the first time the gas station has made the news. Just two months prior to this incident, a clerk was held up as two men demanded money. Although shots were fired, nobody was hurt, but the suspects did get away with some cash.
“I’m scared out here all the time because I saw him out there sometimes and I tell him to leave and I call the police about it,” owner Nazmul Hasan recalled. “We need protection to protect us and then our customers, that’s the only thing we need,” he added. “I’m scared all the time standing outside for a minute,” Hasan admitted. “They do what they want to do,” he said. “People like us, you know innocent people get hurt every time. All we need is protection.”
Hasan isn’t the only one who was left frightened by the incident. Regular customers of the gas station shared similar sentiments, saying they’ll be watching their backs a little more closely moving forward while others expressed concern for their loved ones who frequent the store. “It made me scared for my daughter and my wife” Larry Knight, a regular customer, said. “They come here too.”
Other customers agreed, including Ravenn Cheese, who lives near the gas station. “For it to be right around the corner from where I live, I’m completely shaken up,” she admitted, according to Fox 10 News. “This gas station I felt like was safe,” she added. “It’s well-lit at all times. You just never know where trouble is,” she said after seeing footage of the broad daylight attack. “I’m still going to come here and try to keep my eyes open.”
Edna Hutchinson, another customer, was also shaken up by the incident. “I mean it could have been me. That’s why you always have to watch, look out and be aware of your surroundings at all times,” she said. And, the customers have every right to be concerned. According to Brandon Young’s arrest history, he has been charged in the past with robbery attempts and other similar charges.
Thanks to the brave young woman who put up a fight, allowing the surveillance camera to capture clear images that were then used to identify the assailant, Brandon Young was thrown behind bars, where he belongs. I don’t know about you, but I love a story with a happy ending. Sadly, we know, however, that this could have ended much differently.
Fortunately, this woman is safe, the suspect was caught, and the public has been alerted to the dangers that could be lurking around any corner — or gas pump. The woman’s family now hopes the video can be used to warn other women to be more careful. So, make sure your loved ones see this and know just how quickly an ordinary Sunday evening can take a terrifying turn.
