Package Store Employees Take Down Armed Would-Be Robber: WPD

WORCESTER, MA—Store employees perhaps risked their own lives to stop an alleged would-be armed robber at a package store on Tuesday.

Around 4:10 p.m. on April 24 police were called to Harrahy's Liquor Store at 107 Ward St., where an attempted armed robbery had reportedly just happened. Three men were trying to pin down another on the floor when officers got there, and there appeared to be a black handgun on the floor next to them, said police.

Officers got the gun and detained Manuel Rivera, 65, Worcester. Store employees told police that Rivera came into the store wearing a mask and black paint on his face and said "give me all the money in the register" and then brandished the black handgun. He also threatened to kill store employees if they didn't listen, said police.

A store employee grabbed Rivera's wrist, and two other employees came into the store and were able to subdue Rivera and call 911.

Officers determined that the handgun was a realistic-looking BB gun replica. Rivera was arrested for Armed Assault to Rob. Officers confirmed that he had black paint all over his face. He will be arraigned in Worcester District Court. No one was seriously injured during the struggle.

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