WTOL Toledo 11: Store Attack highlights result of Taft's deadly game

December 12,2003

TOLEDO -- A woman from East Toledo who owns a carryout gets beaten by a robber and it's all caught on tape.

A man came into Joe and Milo's Carryout around 5:30 Wednesday afternoon. He asked for some cigarettes and then said he forgot his money out in his car. He came back with a pipe in his hand and started beating Milo Espinosa. "I fell on the floor," said Milo who speaks very little English. "And he hit me."

The robber stole the register and got away. Police have released the video taped beating hoping to catch the man responsible. He's a white man in his 20's. He's 6'3" tall and weighs about 180 lbs. He was wearing a black leather jacket, black hat, and white gloves.

Milo has bruises and a nasty bump on her head but she's physically doing okay. Her husband Jose Espinosa told The News Channel he's sad and angry. "It was criminal what he did," said Jose. "No way any person could do something like that. I can't believe it," he added.

Jose said they've been robbed before and now they're looking to avoid this kind of attack in the future. "You must have self defense at least because she barely escaped from death," Jose said.

Ohio governor Bob Taft said he will veto the first bill to land on his desk allowing people to carry hidden guns. "I wanted a gun," said Milo. "I don't want it to happen more here with me," she told us.

Toledo police tell us Ohio law states because she and her husband own the business and it's susceptible to attacks there can be a gun on the property for the purposes of self defense.

People who like the concealed carry law want more people to be allowed to have guns. "Carryouts are some of the most dangerous professions," said Chad Baus from the group called Ohioans for Concealed Carry. "I would definitely want to protect myself if I worked there. "Violent crime has gone up 5% in last two years in the state of Ohio. Michigan has dropped its violent crime in the same two years. Michigan passed a carry law two years ago," said Baus.

Click here to read the story from WTOL Toledo 11, The News Channel (a CBS affiliate).