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Published on January 16, 2025
83-Year-Old Woman Robbed of Lottery Winnings Outside Orlando Store, Suspect ChargedSource: Orange County Sheriff's Office

Tragedy struck earlier morning in Orange County when an 83-year-old woman, enjoying the simple pleasures of her lottery winnings, became the victim of a violent robbery. Surveillance footage from Buddy’s Food and Lotto captured the callous moment Diego Stalin Tavarez Fleury, wearing an orange sweatshirt, approached the woman as she was about to enter her car and dragged her to the ground in an attempt to snatch her hard-won gains. According to WESH, the store manager intervened in the struggle, but Fleury escaped with approximately $200 from the victim despite his efforts.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office swiftly identified Tavarez as the man responsible for the assault and managed to take him into custody earlier today. As per the video provided by the Sheriff’s Office and reported by WFTV, a dramatic tussle ensued as another bystander tried to separate the attacker from the victim. The visuals show the elderly woman being dragged, her day of luck becoming a nightmare.

Fleury now faces charges of robbery, sudden snatching, and battery on a person 65 years of age or older. The community, no strangers to camaraderie, saw this brazen act as a shock to their senses. Ae Sun Lee, a store employee, recognized the assailant as a "troublemaker" who didn't regularly patronize the store but "just hangs outside." She hailed her manager as a consistent helper to the community, saying to WESH, "He always helps people. Not only this person. Always."