What was supposed to be a quick stop to drop off clothing at a church donation bin took a violent turn Saturday in Long Island. When 73-year-old Lorraine Lombardo stepped out of her parked but idling car to donate items outside St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, Doreen Dunbar, 50, allegedly tried to steal the vehicle.
Attempted Carjacking: What Happened in a Church Parking Lot
Police say Dunbar, who is reportedly experiencing homelessness, entered the driver’s seat of Lombardo’s 2013 Chevrolet Spark. When Lombardo realized what was happening, she hurried back to her car and grabbed the steering wheel. Dunbar then allegedly shifted into reverse and pressed the gas.
During the tussle, Lombardo fell, and police say the car backed over her legs. She’s now in the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A spokesperson for St. Mary’s says parishioners are praying for Lombardo’s full recovery and for justice in the case.