Woman fires shots to break up robbery outside Popeyes

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Police are investigating after a woman fired her gun during a robbery outside a Popeyes in southwest Miami-Dade County.

Miami-Dade police Detective Lee Cowart said a woman who witnessed the robbery outside the Popeyes on the corner of Southwest 112th Avenue and Southwest 152nd Street tried to intervene, pulled out a gun and fired several shots.

The woman, who identified herself to Local 10 News reporter Liane Morejon only as Lula, said she was at the Popeyes getting lunch when she saw the robber beating on the victim.

She said she "had to stop him." 

"He was bleeding profusely, yes," Lula said. "I just had to save the guy's life. That's all I did was try to save someone's life." 

A witness, Gary Richards, told Morejon that he had just called police regarding a separate matter when the incident occurred.

"As they came out and I introduced myself to them, the next thing I heard -- pop," Richards said.

Richards said the victim was covered in blood.

"His face, his head, all the way down -- blood," he said. 

Molita Cunningham's daughter shot footage of the incident while sitting in her car. 

"You could see a person on top of a person, kind of see blood and then you can hear a shot -- pow," Cunningham said.

Richards said the woman who fired her gun did not strike the robber. 

Lula said this was the first time she has ever used her gun besides at a gun range. 

She was shaken up after the incident and said she was ready to go home to get some rest.

Cowart said the victim had minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

The suspect ran away but was later detained in a nearby neighborhood.