Posted on 11/30/2007 7:24:33 AM PST by mylife
72-year-old fights off man who trashed Christmas decorations
BY RICHARD WEIR and DAVE GOLDINER DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Thursday, November 29th 2007, 4:00 AM
A grinch-like robber was nabbed after he attacked a 72-year-old Westbury man as he strung Christmas lights in his front yard, cops said Wednesday.
Santos Zelaya, 21, followed Reinaldo Herrera inside his house on Fifth Ave., put a BB gun to his head and trashed his living room tree and biblical figurines, police say.
"Jesus, Mary and the wise men all fell to the ground," said Detective Lt. Raymond Cote. "He smashed up the Nativity scene."
Zelaya, of Hicksville, demanded cash and jewelry, and tried to rough up the older man.
But Herrera fought back and forced Zelaya to flee with a cheap watch and a bruised ego Tuesday afternoon.
The deeply religious man said there's no way a punk robber could ruin his holiday spirit.
"I don't know how I got the power," said Herrera, a married grandfather of one. "God helped me. My God is strong."
Even though he is 50 years older than the alleged attacker, Herrera was stocky and muscular enough to repel the younger man.
"I punched him many times, [and] he punched me," said Herrera, who works in a local supermarket. "He got afraid."
"He's very fit," Cote added. "He's a strong man, like a bull."
The would-be robber, whom cops called a drug user and gang member, lost his jacket in the fracas and was nabbed when officers responding to the robbery scene spotted him nearby, Cote said.
In a strange twist, cops said the robber targeted Herrera after being offered $500 to carry out the crime by the victim's own nephew.
The nephew, Jorge Duque, 47, even drove Zelaya to the house, but took off when he saw the scheme going bad, police said.
He and Zelaya were both hit with robbery and other charges.
Cops said Duque's motive was simply greed.
"He felt his uncle was a good target," Cote said. "He had a lot of cash and jewelry on hand."
Herrera said his bad-news relative was estranged from the family and would have to suffer the consequences of his crime.
"He did something wrong," Herrera said. "He should pay."
A neighbor called it a disgrace that anyone would attack a senior citizen, especially during the Christmas season.
"It's amazing. He's an older guy," said Julian Correa, 24. "I don't believe it."
rweir@nydailynews.com
Il Duque is a real piece of work
AMEN, brother!
He’s just misunderstood
The old man seems to have things in perspective
Also, I note the old fellow is working.
Seems the nephew is rejects that notion.
Go get em hombre!
Thanks for putting a face on the story
Santos looks like a little puto
Maybe it’s just me, and the picture is a bit distorted as well, but the hero of the story looks kind of like Fred Thompson!
Looks like Coach from Cheers to me.
Bringing crime to America:
“What am I going to forgive?” Herrera, a Colombian immigrant said. “Let him pay first if he did that to me.”
Zelaya, whom police said is a member of the notorious Salvadoran gang MS-13, then pointed the gun at Herrera’s head — and demanded cash and jewelry. Herrera said Zelaya then told him: “Be quiet.”
Thanks for adding to the story
Amen indeed!
I’m guessing NY has some form of hate based sentencing enhancement. I suspect they won’t be brought into play here.
Sadly, you are probably correct
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