14 March 2023 , 11:28
1029
0
A woman has been left partially paralysed after a mugger picked her up and slammed her into the ground.
Nhung Truong, 44, had been at the bank to get out about $4,300 (£3,500) for an upcoming trip to see her family who she hadn't seen in nearly six years.
Investigators believe the robber followed her from the bank before launching his attack in Houston, Texas, US.
In CCTV footage released by the police, the victim can be seen walking along a covered area by some shops before being approached by a man in a red hoody.
He grabs her and they struggle before she falls to the ground dropping the things she was holding.
Striking teacher forced to take a second job to pay bills ahead of mass walkout
The man grabs what he thought was the money and begins to run away before realising that he had the wrong envelope.
Single mum Nhung Truong faces spending the rest of her life in a wheelchair (FOX26)Ms Truong picks up the envelope with the money and tries to get away but the man returns and grabs her from behind.
He then picks her up and throws her at the concrete ground before finally wrestling the money off her and running.
The attack damaged the victim’s spinal cord and left her paralysed. She is unable to walk or use the bathroom by herself and has to rely on a wheelchair.
The suspect grabs the wrong envelope and begins to run (Houston Police Robbery)The single mum can get a little help from her three children who are 13, 15, and 20-years-old and still in school.
The family said $4,300 was stolen and Truong had been saving up to visit her family in Vietnam she hadn't seen in nearly six years.
Truong said: "I’m feeling very horrible and sad at the same time."
An Duong, Truong's son, said: "I can still go to school, but my mind is just messed up thinking about her, worrying that nobody is going to watch out for her."
Van Duong, Truong's daughter, said: "It’s been really bad. We have to pay rent and stuff and she’s the only one that can work and help us. We don’t know what to do."
Truong lost her husband to cancer seven years ago.
Woman celibate for 11 years gives birth to baby after buying £25 DIY sperm kit
Ms Truong's family are distraught (FOX26)
Ms Truong recovering in hospital (FOX26)Doctors have said there is only around 50 per cent chance she will fully recover.
A police statement reads: "Prior to the incident, the victim had gone to the Bank of America at 9875 Blackhawk and withdrew a large sum of money for an upcoming trip.
"The victim then drove 24 miles to the 9800 block of Bellaire. It is probable that the suspect(s) were watching the bank and followed the victim to her next location."
The suspect grabs her from behind (Houston Police Robbery)The suspect is described as a black male, early 20s, skinny build, 5ft 8ins to 5ft 9ins, 140lbs.
A $5,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information that leads to a charge or arrest.
The police described the incident as a jugging robbery.
Jugging involves thieves staking out unsuspecting victims at banks or retail stores before following them. They will then launch their attack a little later on the unsuspecting victim.