A courageous 8-year-old girl played a key role in foiling [1] a robbery at her father’s Minnesota liquor store when she took a swing at the alleged Amazon worker perp with a baseball bat, as seen on surveillance video.
The incident unfolded at Big Discount Liquors store in Maplewood around 9:30 p.m. Saturday when Conchobhar Morrell, 37, who was wearing an Amazon uniform, walked in and brandished what appeared to be a handgun.
Leo, the girl’s dad and the store clerk, recounted the moment Morrell demanded all the money in the register, recalling,“I told him, ‘Yes — I’ll give you everything.'” As the clerk worked to grab the cash, Morrell allegedly attempted to breach the counter where the girl was standing.
Surveillance footage documented Leo forcefully taking on Morrell and grappling him to the ground before the daughter intervened. Armed with a bat, she repeatedly struck the suspect while her father restrained him.
Leo was surprised to discover his daughter’s actions when he reviewed the surveillance video afterward. He expressed his pride, stating, “I’m so proud of her, she’s so strong,” adding, “That day, I just wanted to cry. When I saw the video, I didn’t expect she’d do that. I expect a little girl crying, screaming.”
Morrell managed to flee the scene but was apprehended shortly after. He was charged with first-degree attempted aggravated robbery, and the weapon he possessed was revealed to be a BB gun, per police.
In response to the incident, an Amazon spokesperson confirmed that Morrell was employed as a delivery associate for a third-party service and stated that he would be “immediately offboarded” following his arrest.
Morrell is currently in custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Friday. This brave young girl’s actions undoubtedly played a critical role in thwarting the robbery attempt, and her courage and determination are commendable.