A 67 year old California woman became a hero when she fought off an intruder who was attacking her neighbor at a Fontana, California senior apartment complex.
Lorenza Marrujo, 67, is less than five feet tall, but she’s a fighter with 26 years of martial arts training. When a man tried breaking into her apartment, she told him to back off, and he listened.
“As he was coming towards me, I said back off – right away,” Marrujo said.
The intruder left her apartment and made his way to another apartment, which belonged to Marrujo’s 81 year old friend and neighbor, Elizabeth McCray.
“He grabbed me and shake me, and I went down on the floor,” McCray said.
Marrujo heard McCray’s screams and ran to help.
“I squeezed myself between her and him. I put Mama on the side, and I jumped on him. I was punching him and everything, and I had the cane against his throat,” Marrujo said.
Marrujo acknowledged that she did not want to kill the intruder, so she switched positions to hold him down with her hands.
“He lifted up and tried to twist my hand. At the same time, I twisted his and turned it around real fast. He was saying, ‘You’re hurting me.’ And I said, ‘I don’t care. I don’t care what happens to you. You had no right to hurt an elderly person,’” Marrujo said.
Police soon arrived on the scene and took the intruder into custody. McCray was taken to the hospital and released the next day.
“I didn’t expect that little lady would be that brave. I was trembling. I grabbed her by the leg. I said, ‘Be careful. You’re gonna kill us.’ She said, ‘Not tonight,’” McCray said.
Police commented on the incident saying that they do not recommend people jump into situations like this, and said that they should instead call 911.
“We recommend that you dial 911 for emergency assistance, which, in this case, she did that and also jumped in. What she told me is that her training kicked in, and it was like a muscle memory. She knew she had to help her friend out,” said police spokesperson Jennie Venzor.
Call 911 when being attacked? And how long before I’m bleeding or dead? When you have the knowhow to fight back – – Fight Back. I had 27 boxing matches while serving 7 yeRs in the Navy and if someone things they can man handle me with out a fight – — – c’mon and try. I will not be waiting 10 to 15 minutes for a police officer to arrive. Kudos to that lady and anyone who will fight for their own right to safety and peace!!