Shoreline grandmother attacked and robbed; detectives searching for suspects
SHORELINE, Wash. -- King County Sheriff’s Detectives are trying to identify three suspects connected to the attack and robbery of a Shoreline grandmother last month.
The 85-year-old and her husband were loading their groceries into the van at Haggen on Aurora Avenue N. when a thief attacked.
“It was so fast, I couldn`t believe it. He got my purse and I fell flat on my face,” said Lila.
Photos of her taken at the hospital are heartbreaking. They show her face bruised and swollen.
She also suffered a fractured rib but despite injuries, her spirit is not broken.
“Horrible, horrible,” said her daughter-in-law Marcia who took the photos.
"She smiles. It's just so indicative of who she is, she smiles," said Marcia.
While Lila was being treated at the hospital, detectives say a woman and two men were using her credit cards at stores in Mill Creek, North Seattle, Ballard and Shoreline.
"These three thugs go in and they start buying gift cards, I-pads and things like that with her credit card," said Sgt. Cindi West.
Surveillance video shows the woman dressed in shorts and a distinctive Nike t-shirt.
"There's one store where the female is buying slurpees of all things," said Sgt. West.
There's also good video of the second suspect at the Fred Meyer store in Ballard.
"He appears to be just kind of nonchalantly walking through the aisles deciding what he`s gonna buy. It appears he bought a couple of gift cards," she said.
Detectives have one image of the third suspect, an Asian man who is shorter and has long hair.
"It takes the lowest of the low to make a child a victim or an elderly person a victim so we want all three of these people in custody. That's our goal," said Sgt. West.
Lila figures certain things are just meant to be.
"I really wasn't that upset about it," said Lila but she does want justice.
"I'll help put the handcuffs on," she joked.
Her family is hoping somebody recognizes the suspects.
"We're outraged that something like this could happen to an 85-year-old woman within a mile of her home," said Marcia.
If you know the names of any of the people wanted for using her stolen credit cards, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
All calls are anonymous and there is a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.