MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A mail carrier is lucky to be alive after narrowly dodging a bullet during an armed robbery Wednesday afternoon while on his route in South Memphis.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service said the carrier was parked in his mail van near the corner of Humber and Essex when a man approached and brandished a gun.
“He been nice every day. Every day. Not one day, every day. Got a smile on his face and carrying the mail,” said James Smith whose mail is delivered by the postal worker.
But the mild-mannered mail carrier was apparently carrying some serious courage along with his mail Wednesday. The post office says he wrestled his attacker to the ground, injuring one of his hands in the process.
But as the two struggled for control of the gun, it went off. By the sound of it, a bullet came very close to hitting the postman.
“I’m not sure if it hit his jacket. We just know he has a hole in his jacket and that’s what we’re thinking that it came from,” said the victim’s sister Rolonda Eulls.
A day before Thanksgiving, Eulls is counting her blessings for her brother’s life who she says didn’t deserve to become a target.
“He’s always on his job doing his job until the end. He gets off work sometimes seven, eight o’clock at night,” Eulls said.
It’s the second time is as many weeks a mail carrier has been attacked.
The Postal Inspection Service is still searching for the man who attacked another mail carrier with a knife on Boston Street November 18.
“Maybe they mad because their mail didn’t come on time. I don’t know. I don’t understand that. Why would you attack a postman? He was just carrying paper,” said USPS customer Jagayla Holst.
The suspect is described as a stocky male in his early 30s with a dark complexion, 5’ 9” to 5’ 11” and possibly 180 lbs. He was wearing a gray skull cap and blue fleece jacket.
If you have any information, you can call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.