A woman said she was thankful to be alive but traumatized after being robbed at gunpoint in Edgehill in broad daylight.
Officials with the Metro Nashville Police Department said three people were robbed on Villa Place near Tremont Avenue around 1 p.m. on Monday.
One of the victims spoke to NewsChannel 5 a day after the incident. She chose not to show her face and wanted to be identified as Ms. Poynor.
She, her husband and friend, who drove into town, had lunch to celebrate her 62nd birthday this week. The trio were walking back to their home on Villa Place when they passed two young men loitering.
The two men then approached them with at least one gun, according to the victims.
"I started crossing the street at which point they pulled the gun and pointed the gun at my husband. He took the gun and he held it up and said, 'give me your purse, give me your purse, I'll shoot you!'" Poynor recalled. "He then ran up to my friend and put the gun up and informed her to give him her purse or he would kill her."
The suspects stole their purses and other belongings including cell phones and ID's and escaped through the backyard of a nearby home.
"It makes you feel violated and fearful, and I have never been fearful" Poynor added. "I woke up all night and all I could see was the gun at me, pointing at me and someone telling me they're going to shoot me."
She said she had the desire to fight back but quickly decided not to. She wants others to stay aware and to think smart to possibly avoid a similar terrifying experience.
"I don't want to be afraid and I don't want other people to be afraid but you just have to be so diligent," she said. "Don't carry a purse and if you do, only carry the minor things you need. Run if you feel threatened."
Poyner also credited police officers for continuing to watch over the community and making her family feel safe. On Tuesday, police officers set up Sky Cop as an added surveillance in the neighborhood.
Detectives with the Midtown Hills Precinct charged one of the two suspected gunmen. An officer caught 19-year-old Sandrez Johnson after being spotted in the Edgehill Homes. Police said Johnson is banned from the public housing development and was arrested for trespassing.
Investigators said Johnson could also be connected to other similar robberies in the same area.
A 66-year-old woman was also robbed at gunpoint on the same street a couple of weeks ago. In April, victims hanging out on the front porch of a house on Villa Place as well were robbed at gunpoint.
