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MASKED GUNMAN FOLLOWS GAMBLER HOME

Masked gunman follows gambler home

12 News
Chuck Weber

March 01, 2010

WEST PALM BEACH-She won big at the dog track, only to be robbed at gunpoint as she arrived home.

"Just threw my hands up in the freeze position, as anybody would if someone's pointing a gun at them," said the woman, who is so shaken up she did not want to be identified.

Saturday night, as the woman won $1900 at the Palm Beach Kennel Club, apparently someone was watching her.

She said friends accompanied her to her car at the dog track.  But when the woman got home and started walking to the door, she said she heard feet running up behind her.

"The guy was standing there with a ski mask on and a gun pointed directly at my face," the woman exclaimed.  After dropping her purse, keys and phone, the woman said the man picked it all up and ran away down the street.

"It's the most helpless feeling in the world," she said with disgust.

Fortunately the West Palm Beach Police officers responding to her call had a license plate recognition system in their patrol car.  The equipment alerted to a passing car driven by Ormontio Thompson.

Police stopped Thompson, and the officers say, in his car, they found a gun, a mask, and the woman's purse.

Monday morning as Thompson made his first court appearance, charged with armed robbery, his alleged victim was also present and addressed the judge.

"He stuck a gun in my face, and was willing to take my life, in front of my own house," the woman told the judge.  "I am terrified, because he knows where I live."

Judge Ted Booras ordered Thompson held with no bail.

The Kennel Club declined comment on what happened to the woman, citing the investigation.  But in a statement, a Kennel Club spokeswoman said customers who win big have the option of taking a check instead of cash.  The alleged victim said she was unaware of the policy.