ORLANDO, Fla. – A man was arrested after allegedly attempting one armed carjacking and executing another in Orlando on Sunday afternoon, Orange County Sheriff's Office officials said.
Deputies said Todd Erskine, 43, attempted to carjack an 82-year-old woman in the parking lot of Home Depot at 7022 W. Colonial Drive about 3:15 p.m., adding that he opened the passenger door, pointed a gun at her and said he needed her car. She refused, created a disturbance, dropped the keys on the ground and Erskine ran away, deputies said.
The Sheriff's Office said about 30 minutes later, Erskine approached a 74-year-old woman in the same parking lot and asked for a ride. Deputies said the woman let Erskine in her minivan and when they got near the intersection of Elm Drive and Pinedale, he hit the woman in the face with his weapon, made her get out and left with her 2006 Sienna.
A deputy realized he was behind the minivan as the information was being dispatched and a pursuit ensued for about five minutes until another deputy performed a tactical maneuver to disable the minivan, the OCSO said.
Erskine was taken into custody.
The 74-year-old victim was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Calvin Jones, who lives down the street from the Home Depot, saw the aftermath.
"Come on man, leave the elderly people alone," he said.