Personal Narrative
Lincoln Heights wasn’t the safest neighborhood growing up. We grew up with poverty and are constantly surrounded by others who commit crime. My family and I struggled growing up, not knowing when we will be making ends meet. When I was 3 years old, my family and I underwent an armed robbery. That night, my sister Linda and I were playing around until my sister Susan’s boyfriend Jay arrived. They were sitting outside on the porch for awhile conversing and constantly making out. My sister Linda and I would continue to peek outside, going in and out of the house to spy on the both of them. We were young and curious as to what was going on. We were laughing and knew that we shouldn’t be looking, but we couldn’t help ourselves. My sister Susan kept on insisting that we both remained inside the house. We didn’t want to listen, so we kept peeking in and out. After about the 5th time of going in and out, we decided to stay in. Before we stayed indoors, I recalled seeing two men coming across the street from a distance, seeing their shadows lurk towards our direction. In a very worried and stern voice, Susan told us to go back inside and to not come out. The two Asian men intruded into our home, entering along with my sister Susan and her boyfriend Jay. The armed gunman told all of us to lay down on the floor. There was difficulty in us following orders, for we didn’t understand much English. After yelling at us for about 5 minutes, we all finally laid down. They searched for our telephone and pulled the cords to disconnect any type of communication with the police. They also locked the doors so that there won’t be any room for escape. One of the men pointed the gun in all of our directions, while the other went into my parent’s room searching for money. My father decided to get up and started to fight the armed gunman. The gunman attempted to pull the trigger, but my father turned it towards the opposite direction. They continued to fight, but luckily, my father was able to stand his ground. My father had gotten his head split open from the gun, as well as a broken foot from being stomped on during their fight. My father was screaming out for help and continued to fight the gunman. Nobody came to our rescue, even with all of the commotion he caused. My father got a hold of the gun and attempted to pull the trigger, but was held back because the safety was on. He tried to figure out how to take off the safety, but it was a failed attempt. My mother somehow escaped and ran to one of the neighbor’s home. They asked what was going on and my mother kept screaming out for them to call the police explaining the situation about our family being robbed. Once they heard the news, the police were called. The gunman fled the scene in hopes of not being caught. Unsure of the make and model, they fled in a red car. We waited for the police to arrive for some assistant. Failing to be prompt, the police didn’t arrive until 2 hours after the incident. Anything could’ve happened during the long 2 hour wait. The gunman could’ve came back and shot all of us. The police obviously weren’t concerned for our safety because they didn’t come in a timely manner. I felt there was injustice with the police department because they are supposed to be the ones to protect and serve our country. They are the ones that are supposed to make us feel safe, especially when an event like this occurs. Once the police arrived, everybody was asked to give a full detailed description. My sister Susan’s boyfriend was quiet and suspicious and left before he could be questioned. That’s when we figured out and pieced the facts that her boyfriend had set up the whole ordeal. After the initial statements, the officers patrolled around to catch the armed robbers. The police officers caught the two men and put them under arrest. The two men went to jail and I’m not too sure how long of a sentence they both had received. I can’t forget the frightening vivid image in which we went through. My family were shaken up from the trauma and were shocked to have to go through something so horrific. We were put in a life threatening situation and it was all in the act of a senseless violence. The situation could’ve been worse and we all could’ve been seriously injured or dead.