3 Stabbed Before Man With Gun Stops Robber

Two good Samaritans suffered stab wounds on Sunday when they tried to come to a woman’s aid in a Publix parking lot in Seminole. That’s when Pinellas County deputies say a third good Samaritan with a gun stepped in and put an end to the struggle without firing a shot.

According to the sheriff’s office, the unusual string of events began to unfold around 12:40 p.m. Aug. 6 in the Publix parking lot at 7880 113th St. Rossana Lynn, 44, was sitting in her 2010 Toyota Highlander when Bobby Martin Watson, 49, of St. Petersburg is accused of walking up to her vehicle, opening the door and trying to reach for her purse.

Lynn struggled with Watson and was subsequently stabbed in the abdomen and left thigh, an email from the sheriff’s office said. Watson, the sheriff's office said, took off on foot after stabbing Lynn. 

Christopher McMann 44, of St. Petersburg noticed the struggle and tried to help Lynn, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies say Watson stabbed McMann in the back and kept running toward the Seminole City Shopping Center. Despite the stab wound, deputies say McMann kept on chasing Watson and was joined in the pursuit by another witness, Travis Jones, 31, of Seminole.

As Jones and McMann chased Watson across 113th Street eastbound, deputies say Donald Rush, 40, of Washington, Pennsylvania, also noticed the commotion. Rush grabbed a handgun from his vehicle “and joined in the foot pursuit of Watson,” the sheriff’s office noted.

McMann and Jones were able to tackle Watson, but deputies say Jones was stabbed in the abdomen during the struggle that ensued. Rush stepped in at that point, disarmed Watson and held him at gunpoint until deputies arrived, the agency said 

Lynn, McMann and Jones all suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

As for Watson, he was booked into the Pinellas County Jail after receiving medical clearance. He faces armed robbery and three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charges. Watson remained in jail Monday.

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