Two teenagers have been arrested and charged in connection to the “jugging” incident of a Houston woman that left her paralyzed. Joseph Harrell, 17, and Zy’Nika Ayesha Woods, 19, were both charged with aggravated robbery after they followed Nhung Truong, a mother of three, from the bank to a nearby business by car. Harrell allegedly got out of the car and assaulted Truong, taking her wallet and wrestling away the envelope of money she was holding. The 17-year-old then picked Truong up and slammed her down onto the concrete, causing severe injuries. The suspects were identified through surveillance video footage, and Woods confessed to their involvement in the robbery during an interview with detectives.
“Jugging” is a new crime trend that has been posing a danger on American streets. The term refers to criminals targeting people who have just withdrawn a large amount of cash from a bank or ATM, following them to a destination and then robbing them. This type of violence will not be tolerated in the city, said Houston Police Chief Troy Finner. Mayor Sylvester Turner added that the criminal justice system will make sure that the suspects remain off the streets, so it doesn’t happen to somebody else.
Harrell was out on bond at the time of the attack for two charges and is also accused of the aggravated assault of another woman 12 days after Truong was hurt. Woods is being held on a $50,000 bond, and bond has not yet been set for Harrell. A GoFundMe account set up by Truong’s family has raised more than $263,000 by Monday. Truong suffered a spinal cord injury and was discharged from the hospital for what is expected to be a years-long recovery process.
In conclusion, the arrest of the two teenagers in connection to the “jugging” incident on Nhung Truong is a victory for law enforcement agencies in protecting citizens from violent crimes. The public should remain vigilant and take precautions when withdrawing large amounts of cash from banks or ATMs. It is also essential to report any suspicious activities or behaviors to the authorities to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
