74-year-old woman carjacked at gunpoint outside senior living facility

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Investigators with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are looking for the suspects who carjacked an elderly woman outside her senior living facility.

Sandra Summers, 74, pulled her car into the parking lot of McAlpine Terrace Apartments in southeast Charlotte Friday night.

Summers made her way to the front door to get a cart, which she needed to unload her groceries, but just before she made it into the building, she said she was approached by three young men.

She said she initially thought they were going to try to get in the building to visit a grandparent. Their intentions, however, were not that innocent.

“He put a black gun in my face and said, ‘I’ll kill you if you don’t give me your pocketbook and your car keys,’” explained Summers.

Summers said she initially didn’t move due to the shock and that’s when the suspect repeated himself.

“I’ll kill you if you don’t give me your pocketbook and your car keys.”

Summers said the man didn’t look older than 19 years old. She said she could only see his eyes, as the rest of his face was covered with a mask.

She said the other two suspects stood slightly behind the man and looked even younger than he did.

Summers complied, and she watched as the suspects drove off in her car with her purse, which contained her bank card and license, as well as the groceries she had just purchased.

“I don’t know how they could do that to anyone, especially the elderly,” said Summers. “We aren’t able to defend ourselves in any way.”

Summers is on a fixed income and is handicapped. She has a neurological disorder known as drop foot. When she’s not in her motorized wheelchair, she wears a brace on her legs.

“I can’t even walk fast, much less run,” explained Summers. “I also have arthritis in my hands so I really have no way to defend myself.”

Summers believes she was preyed upon for that reason she worries that other residents at the senior living facility could be targeted for that same reason.

Summers hopes more security can be put in place in the near future.

The complex is operated by the Charlotte Housing Authority. Channel 9 reached out to the housing authority but did not hear back by the time this article was written.

"A lot of people here are really upset,” said Summers. “They’re very scared and upset.”

Channel 9 also reached out to CMPD and investigators confirmed no arrests have been made.

Summers’ vehicle is a 1995 Toyota Corolla with North Carolina handicapped tags. The four-door vehicle is a light-gold color with a cracked front windshield.

Anyone with information on the stolen vehicle or the suspects is asked to call police.

Cox Media Group