Woman stabs man in self-defense after alleged robbery in Lauderhill, police say
LAUDERHILL - A woman stabbed a man in self-defense after he allegedly tried to rob her in Lauderhill on Thursday morning, police said.
A stunning scene caught on cellphone video showed Robinette Varnedoe with a knife. She told CBS News Miami she warded off the man near her home at 4400 NW 21st around 7:30 a.m.
"He followed me from the store, he tried to rob me," she said. "I didn't know at first. He was trying to say I took some things that I didn't take. I purchased some items from him."
The suspect has since been identified as Ferroid Thomas, 29, and taken to Broward County Main Jail facing a charge of burglary with battery.
According to police, Varnedoe purchased hygiene products from the suspect and returned to her residence.
When the sun came up, she walked to the store to utilize the ATM and this is when Thomas confronted her, police said. Varnedoe told him that she would just return the products to him outside her home, according to police.
Thomas forced his way into the victim's home and snatched the victim's cellphone, police said.
"He grabbed my purse [and] we was tasseling," Varnedoe told CBS News Miami.
Moments later, Varnedoe said she grabbed a knife, and she stabbed him. After Thomas was cut, he ran away.
About an hour after the fight, Thomas allegedly made it a few blocks before stopping at someone's front door for help because he was bleeding. That person then called 911.
When police arrived in the 4500 block of NW 26th St., they took Thomas into custody and brought him to Broward Health Medical Center to be treated for his injuries.
