The teenage suspect charged in the violent robbery of a 44-year-old Vietnamese mother who was paralyzed has made sick calls from prison blasting her for setting up a GoFundMe.
Joseph Harrell was allegedly caught on camera ramming Nhung Truong onto the concrete as he tried to steal a wad of cash from her, leaving her with serious physical injuries she may never recover from.
Truong had just withdrawn $4,300 from an ATM to pay for the upcoming trip back to her native Vietnam.
It is now alleged that Harrell has since made a series of phone calls from prison, where he angrily lamented how Truong managed to raise more than $320,000 to help with the extensive medical costs of her recovery and rehabilitation .
“The lady probably wants justice and more shit. They’re gonna try to tease me for basically 20 years. The *****. I won’t go into that. The ***** has already bagged a $230,000 rebate on GoFundMe. ***** You’d better get on with your life,’ he scolded.
Joseph Harrell, 17, and Zy’Nika Ayesha Woods, 19, have been charged after Nhung Truong, 44, was attacked after taking $4,300 from an ATM
Family members are gathered around Nhung Truong, 44, who was thrown with her body to the ground, causing a spinal injury that left her paralyzed
The teenage suspect charged in the violent robbery of a 44-year-old mother who was left paralyzed as a result of her injuries has called from prison, where he lashed out at the success of the victim’s GoFundMe page
“For example, ***** you raised $230,000. See. They say she’s raised $230,000 and will be able to walk again in no less than a year,” he reportedly said, according to audio of the phone call heard by ABC13.
“We stole handbags. I jumped out, grabbed the purse, the lady ran with the money, I grabbed her, hit her and she was paralyzed.”
Harrell’s bail was originally set at $200,000 but was reduced to $100,000 for robbery charges.
A little over a week later, he was also charged in a separate robbery case. The bail for that case was also reduced from $40,000 to $30,000.
“My concern is for the public,” said Douglas Griffith, president of the Houston Police Officers Union.
“When this boy gets out of prison, he’s going to bully more people. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself, and the fact that the judge lowers his manacles confuses me. I can’t take care of it. This child is a danger to others and the community and needs to be locked up.’
Although Harrell was the only person caught on surveillance video, a female accomplice, Zy’Nika Woods, 19, is also charged with the robbery.
Harrell is said to have followed Truong more than 23 miles after withdrawing cash from an ATM on February 13.
Houston police described the incident as a “juggling” attack, in which thieves target victims who have recently used an ATM.
The family said the robbers made off with about $4,300. They said Truong saved the money to visit her family in Vietnam
In the video, the thief could be seen snatching an envelope that police believe stole Truong’s cash from among her scattered belongings. He began to flee, but then turned when he realized he had picked up the wrong envelope. He then hit Truong with his body and fled with the money.
At a news conference last week, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said, “This type of violence will not be tolerated in our city. It’s just pointless.
“I just spoke to Ms. Truong … and reassured her, and I want the city of Houston to have our back. These are very serious injuries. Recovery takes a long time. And I want her to know the love of our agency but also of our amazing citizens in this city.’
Woods was arrested for a traffic violation and then confessed to the robbery to detectives. She also implicated Harrell, Detective Tyrus Fontenot said.
The single mother of three, aged 13, 15 and 20, who now needs her help, said: “I feel very terrible and sad at the same time.”
Truong is paralyzed after a horrific spinal injury. It is unknown if she will ever fully recover
It has been more than a month since the attack and Truong is in rehab and still hopes she can walk again. She said she just wants people to know what can happen
“It’s not a big loss of money,” said her daughter Linh Duong. “The great loss is her leg.”
The single mother of three children aged 13, 15 and 20 now needs your help.
“I feel very terrible and sad at the same time,” Truong said. “They don’t know when my leg will be able to walk again.
“I just need to practice, try to walk and stuff like that,” Truong explained. “I am very sad that this happened to me and I just want to let people know that they need to be careful.”
Her children said they were worried about how their family would be able to cope.
“I can still go to school, but my mind just gets confused when I think about her and worry that nobody will take care of her,” said An Duong, Truong’s son.
Her other daughter, Van Duong, said doctors told them there was only a 50 percent chance Truong would ever fully recover.
A GoFundMe page dedicated to Truong’s medical bills has now raised a total of $320,000.