Ligonier Teen Fends Off Would-Be Robber, Police Trying To Track Suspect Down
LIGONIER TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- A Westmoreland County teenager fought off a would-be robber after stopping to help a man with a flat tire over the weekend.
"I have a broken nose and a cut on my wrist. I'm very lucky for what I came out with," said victim Elijah Parrish. "Scary… just helping someone out and it turns out to be a very different situation."
Indeed it was for the 18-year-old who is a football player at Ligonier Valley High School.
It all started around 11 p.m. Saturday when Parrish was driving home from a Penguins party along Route 711.
"It was a black car pulled over with the flashers on, and he waved me down, so I pulled over and pulled down my window," said Parrish. "He said he and his buddy had a flat [tire] and they didn't have a jack, and he asked me if I had one, and I said yes."
But as soon as soon as Parrish got out of his car, he says the suspect put his hand on his shoulder and put what felt like a box cutter to his back and demanded money.
Parrish said he froze, but not for long. He spun around and the knife cut his arm. The guy punched him in the face, breaking his nose. Parrish was dazed, but still had some fight.
"He came up behind me… and put his hand on my neck. At that time, I was able to reach his head and hit it off his car twice. He fell down to the ground," said Parrish. "After I hit his face on his vehicle, he was kind of cursing a little and holding his face. He was screaming a lot and he crawled back in his car."
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The suspect drove off in a hurry. Parrish says the man in the car with the suspect never moved.
Ligonier Township Police are now asking the public for help finding the driver.
"White male, approximately 40- to 50-years-old, short gray hair, close cut beard, wearing a black hoodie with a Bowtech camo deer skull on the front," said Ligonier Township Police Chief Michael Matrunics.
Parrish says he is pretty sure the suspect was driving a black, four-door Honda. It had a little rust above the wheel and a loud exhaust.
Also, the back window on the driver's side is broken out from where Parrish smashed the driver's head.
