News

Pizza delivery driver refuses to back down when confronted by armed robber

LYNN, Mass. — An investigation is underway in Lynn after a pizza delivery driver was attacked on the job by a would-be robber, but he refused to back down.

Police sources told Boston 25 News that they are now investigating at least three robberies that have targeted delivery drivers in the area in less than a week.

MORE: Delivery drivers under attack in Lynn, police investigating

“I did a stupid thing to fight with a person, because it’s very dangerous,” the victim, who is not being identified, said.

The delivery driver spoke only with Boston 25 News and said he was able to fight off his attacker with his pizza bag after being threatened with a knife.

“I almost lost my life,” he said. “I almost lost my life because I was fighting for my life.”

The father of two teenagers said the struggle lasted nearly three minutes. He said the man with a knife came at him from behind after he made a delivery on Jackson Street in Lynn Sunday night.
"He tried to stab me and I fight with the back and forth," he said. "This is the second time in one-and-a-half months. The other time they tried to rob me with a gun."

On Monday, the next night, a different driver from the same pizza restaurant faced a similar robbery attempt on Chatham Street.

Police sources told Boston 25 News that a third delivery driver was also targeted this week.

“The city is out of control,” deliver driver Kevin Barry said. “It’s like the wild west out here. It’s not safe for nobody.”

Several delivery drivers now say delivering food is so dangerous that they’re arming themselves.

“I just won’t work this job without a gun in my pocket anymore,” Barry said. “It’s so dangerous.”

“Let’s put it this way,” Justin Kelleher said. “Delivery drivers have their own way of protecting themselves. Some have baseball bats and others carry knives. Others carry other means of protection.”

In the end, the delivery driver who fought off his attacker with his pizza bag was not injured, but he said that if it happens again he would just hand over his money.

Lynn police would not say if this string of robberies are connected.