Dudley, North Carolina

From the March 13, 2007 Goldsboro, North Carolina News-Argus:

Would-be victims take on robber

Outnumbered and outgunned.

That's how one would-be robber found himself when he barged into a family's home on Timothy Street in Dudley late Sunday and attempted to deprive them of out of their hard-earned dollars.

Instead of leaving the home a couple of dollars richer, the would-be robber found himself behind bars and in need of medical attention.

Wayne County sheriff's deputies responded to 111 Timothy St. after receiving a call. Deputies were told there had been a home invasion at the location and one of the suspects was in custody.

When they arrived they found one of the robbers identified as Andre Ahmond Lewis, 24, of Genoa Road, Dudley, being held down by one of the residents.

The victims, Santo Garcia Ramirez, 57, and Victor Alfonso Ramirez, 22, who lived in the home, and Rurin Pedis, 36, of Indian Springs Road, Mount Olive, told deputies two black males entered the home and robbed them out of $40, Wayne County Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Rick Farfour said.

The men wore bandanas as they entered. One toted a handgun and the other bore a shotgun, he said.

"Before leaving, one suspect turned to fire the shotgun," Farfour said.

That's when the three victims turned the tables on him, officials said.

One of the victims grabbed the shotgun after it jammed, overpowered the shooter and held him down until deputies arrived, Wayne County Sheriff's Lt. Tom Effler said.

Lewis received a few scratches and bruises during the scuffle, officials said. He was charged with first-degree burglary and robbery with a dangerous weapon and placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.