80-year-old woman grabs attacker's gun

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- An 80-year-old Kansas City, Mo., woman lost her purse in a scuffle with an 18-year-old man, but was able to grab the thief's gun, authorities said.

The woman grabbed the shotgun after the attacker dropped it during the scuffle and threatened to shoot, but she did not follow through on the threat and the thief got away with the purse, The Kansas City Star reported Thursday.

However, a witness directed police to a nearby apartment building, where officers were able to follow a trail of footprints in the snow to an apartment containing suspect Dandre Bell. Officers said Bell was carrying the victim's checks in his pocket, and the missing purse was found on the apartment landing.

After Bell was identified by the victim, he told police he needed "to get money for his baby," court records say.

Bell, who has been charged with first-degree robbery and armed criminal action, was released on his own recognizance pending trial.