MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Mississippi preacher is recovering from a concussion, broken ribs, and abrasions after being robbed and beaten on his way home from the airport.
Willie Hamblen, the minister of South Jackson Church of Christ in Houston, Mississippi, said he made a wrong turn exiting the Memphis International Airport late Saturday night and ended up in a South Memphis neighborhood he wasn’t familiar with.
The 84-year-old said he was trying to turn his car around when it got stuck on the railroad tracks at Pendleton Street and Frisco Avenue.
“It was a bad choice on my part. I followed the GPS, and it said to turn at the next intersection, and with my vision not being as good as it needed to be, I ended up on the railroad right of way,” said Hamblen.
Hamblen said while he was waiting on a tow truck, a man approached his car, asked him what was going on, and returned with another man and an assault rifle and robbed him.
“They came up to me and asked for everything I had,” Hamblen said.
Hamblen said that when he didn’t comply, the men went through his pockets and hit him several times on the back of the head with the butt of the rifle, knocking him to the ground.
“I don’t know whether they kicked me in the ribs or the tracks caused the damage in the ribs. I’m not sure, but I had a bad bleed from my skull, and that’s the way they left me,” said Hamblen. “I don’t remember the details. After the concussion, some things are a little bit different.”
He said the robbers stole his iPhone, car keys, and wallet containing about $1,100. Hamblen said it took a while to flag down some help.
“Finally, about three cars at the same time stopped. They seemed to get a little bit of courage in numbers and came out to me. Because I was bleeding so badly, they thought I had been shot. They called police,” he said.
Hamblen, who will celebrate his 85th birthday on Friday, expressed his gratitude for the officers and EMTs who rescued him and is thankful he wasn’t more seriously hurt.
“Those gentlemen could have decided to shoot me, and they didn’t. So, I’m a happy camper to be alive,” said Hamblen. “I’m aware that’s not Memphis. It’s two people, and it’s not a community issue. It’s a behavioral thing.”
Hamblen said support from his church family and the Houston community has been overwhelming, and he is hoping it won’t be long before he returns to the pulpit.
Police said the suspects were in a dark sedan. If you have any information that can help investigators, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.