Cops: Man fires shot at woman fending off robbery

A woman exiting her car at her home in Inwood was attacked by a would-be robber, who fled empty-handed after the victim fought back -- but not before firing a shot at her from a handgun, Nassau County police said.

The victim, identified by police only as a 37-year-old woman, was not injured.

The attack occurred in the driveway of a home on Mervin Street at 7:52 p.m. Thursday.

Police said the woman had just gotten out of her car when she was "immediately confronted" by the suspect, who was armed with a handgun. The man demanded the victim's pocketbook, police said. She struggled to retain it, then "pushed" the suspect -- who fled on foot without the bag, police said.

Police said, however, that after the woman began screaming for help, the assailant "turned around and fired one shot towards the victim."

She was not struck.

Police are asking anyone with information about the attack to call Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.

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By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”