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Victim Takes Teen Mugger to Dinner
By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 28, 2008
Modified Mar 28, 2008
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 28, 2008
Modified Mar 28, 2008
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Granted this story could have ended badly, it's nice that a heartwarming tale was the final result. NPR reports on New Yorker Julio Diaz, a 31-year-old social worker, who often frequents his favorite Bronx diner on his commute home. When a teenage boy mugged him at knife point on the subway platform one of those nights, Diaz offered him his jacket and changed the course of things.
As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."
The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"
Diaz replied: "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me ... hey, you're more than welcome.
"The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi," Diaz says. "The kid was like, 'You know everybody here. Do you own this place?'"
"No, I just eat here a lot," Diaz says he told the teen. "He says, 'But you're even nice to the dishwasher.'"
Needless to say, the kid gave Diaz his wallet back...but he also handed over the knife he used to mug him. So maybe, just maybe, he's found a new way to make some money. [via Kottke]
UPDATE: For those questioning the validity of the story, it was produced by StoryCorps, a Brooklyn company that tells us "all stories that are produced for broadcast are fact checked to the best of our ability and approved by the storytellers. We do not make any significant edits to the content of the story."
Photo via hellophotokitty's flickr.
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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