MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — It’s back to business after a major upset at Big Discount Liquors in Maplewood. An armed robber was assaulted by an 8-year-old girl and her baseball bat.
Thirty-seven-year-old Conchobhar Morrell, from St. Paul, was charged with first-degree attempted aggravated robbery in Ramsey County on Monday.
Charging documents state Morrell’s criminal record includes a 2004 conviction for first-degree aggravated robbery.
Surveillance video from the store shows Morrell wearing an Amazon uniform and reaching into his pocket before placing a realistic BB gun on the counter.
According to an Amazon spokesman, Morrell was a delivery worker for a third-party delivery service that delivered packages to Amazon. He will be “immediately disembarked”.
Store manager Leo says he was preparing to close the store around 9:30 p.m. Saturday when Morrell walked in and wandered through the store.
“He (Morrell) put the gun on the table, he asked me to give him all the money and everything in the register. I told him yes – I’ll give you everything,” Leo said.
Behind the counter next to Leo was his 8-year-old daughter.
Leo said he tried to reason with Morrell, explaining to him that he could have all the money and that his only concern was his daughter’s safety.
Surveillance video shows Morrell walking behind the contraption pistol in hand.
“I’m a father, I’m not going to let that happen,” Leo said.
Leo punches the man and wrestles him to the floor. Seconds later you see his brave little girl with a bat in her hand.
“I’m so proud of her for being so strong,” Leo said.
His daughter punched the suspect a few times before he ran away. Leo said he didn’t even know she was trying to help until he saw the surveillance video back.
“That day I just wanted to cry. When I saw the video, I didn’t expect her to do that. I expected a little girl crying and screaming,” Leo said.
Leo said he asked his daughter the next day what made her do it – she told him she wanted to defend him and that she loved him so much.
It’s an incredible act of heroism by a little girl who saw her father in need of help.
As of Tuesday night, Morrell is in custody and will be back in court Friday at 9 a.m.