TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. – A Clearwater man is behind bars and a woman has her neighbor to thank for saving her life.
Neighbors at Pine Ridge at Lake Tarpon are in awe of how one mom stepped in to help her neighbor, even risking her own safety.
31-year-old Brittany Cheek didn’t hesitate for a single second. When she heard her neighbor screaming, she grabbed her gun, and took action. Carolyn Lubecki says that makes her a hero, “Just an amazing act of bravery.”
Lubecki called 911 when she heard screams. She explained, “You kind of panic in situations and thank god Brittany Cheek didn’t. She didn’t think twice.”
Pinellas County deputies say 18-year-old Daniel Morley, wearing only his boxers, started pounding on the door of the condo at 1344 Pine Ridge Circle East around 4 a.m. on Saturday.
Susan Bass noticed the man was bleeding and opened her door to help. Instead, Morley attacked her. That’s when Bass’ neighbor across the hall grabbed her gun and shot Morley in the leg. Cheek’s 3-year-old son was just a few feet away.
Tammy Harrison, the owner of a female-oriented gun shop called Girls Gun Wild in Largo, says more women are packing heat to stay safe.
“We’re all in that boat right now. It can happen to any of us at any time.”
Harrison’s business has doubled in the past two years with women now arming themselves with handguns.
“It sort of pushes you over the fence to hear of crimes like this. Like hey, she protected her 3-year-old, that could have been me,” she said enthusiastically.