Fayetteville woman fights off rapist, shoots him in leg

The woman told investigators that she was heading to the Ramsey Food Mart in the 2900 block of Ramsey Street shortly before 11 p.m. when a man approached her in the parking lot and asked for a ride. When she refused, she said, he pulled out a handgun and got into her vehicle.

The man ordered her to drive to the dead end of Brinkley Street, where he raped her at gunpoint, she told police. During the assault, she grabbed for the man's gun, and a struggle ensued.

The gun fired, wounding the man in the leg and the woman in the hand, police said. The woman was then able to run to a nearby house for help. The man fired several shots as she fled, but she wasn't hit.

A description provided by the woman led investigators to arrest Latorie Jerriel Crumpler, 32, in the 300 block of Abbottswood Drive. Crumpler had a gunshot wound to the leg, and police also recovered a handgun.

Crumpler has been charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree rape and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. He was being held Thursday in the Cumberland County jail under a $100,000 bond.

Berthenia Lindo, who owns a beauty shop on Ramsey Street, said she has never seen any major trouble in the area before, but she is always prepared, just in case.

"I'm always concerned about my safety. I'm always careful, watching and everything," Lindo said.