A mother of three was left paralyzed after a robber hit her on the body and allegedly saw her withdraw money from an ATM and followed her for 23 miles.
Nhung Truong, 44, a Vietnamese man, was attacked on February 13 by a black man in his 20s in what Houston police believe was a juggling incident, where assailants keep an eye on unsuspecting victims.
The gruesome moment was caught on surveillance video as the suspect is seen engulfing the woman in a violent bear hug until she drops her belongings, which included passports for an upcoming trip home.
She was then knocked to the ground by the thief’s body, resulting in a life-changing spinal cord injury. Now, cops say they need the public’s help to identify the suspect.
Nhung Truong, 44, is paralyzed after a suspect beat her on February 13 and followed her 23 miles from a Houston ATM to a shopping center and attacked her.
The gruesome moment was caught on surveillance video as the suspect is seen engulfing the woman in a violent bear hug until she drops her belongings.
She was then knocked to the ground by the thief’s body, resulting in a life-changing spinal cord injury. Now, cops say they need the public’s help to identify the suspect.
Houston police said Truong had withdrawn money from Bank of America on Blackhawk Boulevard in Houston and that the suspect followed him nearly 24 miles away to a shopping center in Bellaire around 11:30 a.m.
In the video, the thief can be seen stealing an envelope that police believe he thought was Truong’s cash from his scattered belongings. He started to run, but then turned and the body slammed Truong to the ground.
the family told him FOX 26 that the thief took about $4,300. They said Truong had been saving money to visit her family in Vietnam.
The traumatic incident has left Truong paralyzed and in a wheelchair, unable to walk or use the toilet without assistance.
“It’s not a big waste of money,” said his daughter Linh Duong. The big loss is her leg.
Now the single mother of three children, ages 13, 15 and 20, she now relies on them for help.
“I feel very horrible and sad at the same time,” Truong said. ‘They don’t know when my leg can walk again.’
The traumatic incident has left Truong paralyzed and in a wheelchair, unable to walk or use the toilet without assistance.
The family told FOX 26 that the robber made off with about $4,300. They said Truong had been saving money to visit his family in Vietnam.
The single mother of three boys, ages 13, 15 and 20, who now relies on them for help, said: “I feel very bad and sad at the same time.”
The suspect is described as a black male in his early 20s, 5’8″ and weighing 140 pounds.
It’s been almost a month since the attack and Truong is undergoing rehabilitation, hoping to be able to walk again. She said that she just wants people to be aware of what can happen.
“I just need to practice, try to walk and stuff,” Truong said. “I’m so sad this happened to me and I just want people to know to be careful.”
Houston police believe it was a juggling incident, involving robbers staking unsuspecting victims, such as at an ATM, before following and robbing them, and sometimes attacking them at the right moment.
His children said they are worried about how their family will manage.
“I can still go to school, but my mind is messy thinking about her, worrying that no one will take care of her,” said An Duong, Truong’s son.
His other daughter, Van Duong, said doctors told them there is only a 50 percent chance Truong will make a full recovery.
It’s been almost a month since the attack and Truong is undergoing rehabilitation, hoping to be able to walk again. She said that she just wants people to know what can happen.
Truong’s family created a GoFundMe page to help pay for his medical expenses. The fundraiser has already reached $19,354 of a goal of $50,000 as of Monday night.
It has been very bad. We have to pay rent and stuff and she is the only one who can work and help us,” she said. We do not know what to do.
“If a miracle happens, then she can walk again,” Van added.
TO GoFundMe The page was created by Truong’s family to help pay for his medical expenses. The fundraiser has already reached $20,000 of a $50,000 goal as of Monday night.
The suspect is described as a black male in his 20s, approximately 5’8″ and weighing 140 pounds, according to Houston police. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.