MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Germantown woman was taken into custody after threatening to shoot a good Samaritan before taking her car.
Joy Wilson told police she was at the Family Dollar store on Thomas Street Sunday when she agreed to give a ride to an unknown woman.
“A young lady approached me asking if I could give her a ride,” Wilson said.
She says Dominique Cooper offered her money, but she didn’t want it.
“I said, ‘Baby, do you know God? Because Jesus can help you with everything, because that’s all you need.”
After leaving the store, Wilson pulled up to an ATM.
Cooper got out of the car and walked toward the machine. Moments later, she asked Wilson for money and told her that her son was being held for ransom.
Wilson says Cooper talked about missing her son and said her ex-fiance was following them.
“She said, ‘Well, he said he’s following us. And if we get out the car he’s going to kill us.”
That’s when Wilson decided, for her own safety, it was time to drive back to the Dollar General. But she says Cooper grabbed the steering wheel and threatened her.
“She said, ‘Ma’am. You’re not really understanding. I don’t want to have to shoot you,” Wilson said.
That’s when Wilson says she grabbed her house keys and jumped out of the car, leaving all of her belongings behind.
Three days later, authorities identified the suspect as 32-year-old Dominique Cooper. She was taken into custody the same day and charged with aggravated assault and aggravated robbery.
Wilson still doesn’t know where her car is. But she’s not at all discouraged by what happened and hopes this doesn’t stop others from lending a hand to those who are truly in need.
“She may be locked up, but God can still free her while she’s locked up.”
