Two men tried to rob a 61-year-old man at gunpoint as he was leaving Burger King Monday afternoon, but he foiled the attempt by grabbing the gun, sheriff's reports say.
The Key West man was turning onto Eighth Street when two men reportedly approached his car. When one suspect opened the door and grabbed the driver's gold necklace, the driver grabbed his wrist, reports say. A second suspect jumped in the car through the back-passenger door, put a handgun to the man's head and said, "I want it now, Papi!"
When the driver grabbed the gun, the suspect pulled away, leaving deep cuts in the driver's hand, reports say. The suspect then allegedly hit him in the nose and forehead with the butt of the gun.
The driver fought off his attackers and kept his necklace, reports say. He even chased the suspects toward Ninth Avenue, but reportedly lost sight of them.
Monroe County Sheriff's Office deputies found the driver at Fifth Avenue and Cross Street, where he was taken to Lower Keys Medical Center while officers searched for the two suspects, reports say.
The driver described them as black men in their 20s, each with a thin build, wearing denim shorts and white tank tops, reports say.
Deputies ask anyone with information about the case to contact Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys at 800-346-8477 or at http://www.tipsubmit.com. Tips are eligible for cash rewards.