New Orleans robbery foiled; Tulane student shot defending woman

In a nearly fatal encounter caught on surveillance video, a Tulane University medical student was shot trying to stop an apparent armed robbery on a New Orleans street.

Peter Gold, 25, was driving in the city's Lower Garden District at 4 a.m. Friday when he saw a woman being dragged into a car, according to the Advocate, a southern Louisiana newspaper.

Gold slammed on his brakes, hopped out of the car and rushed toward the woman. By the time he reached her, she was lying on the sidewalk, according to the Advocate.

Before Gold could call police, the assailant stepped out of a sport utility vehicle and pointed a semiautomatic pistol at him, the paper reported.

As Gold raised his arms in surrender, his back facing a brick wall, the man pointed the gun at Gold's head and demanded money, according to the Times-Picayune, a New Orleans newspaper.

"The victim explained to the suspect, repeatedly, that he did not have any cash," New Orleans police said in a news release. "The suspect became enraged and shot the victim once in the stomach."

As Gold writhed in pain, the assailant tried to shoot him again, aiming at his head, but the weapon malfunctioned. Eventually, the gunman went back to his car and drove away, leaving Gold bleeding on the sidewalk.

Gold remains in "guarded condition" at University Medical Center, though he is expected to recover fully, according to the Advocate.

The woman he tried to help, who was not identified, was treated for minor injuries and released.

Police yesterday named a suspect, saying they were looking for Euric Cain, 21, of New Orleans on charges of armed robbery, second-degree kidnapping and attempted first-degree murder.

Michele Adams, who taught Gold while he was an undergraduate sociology student, told the Advocate that she was not surprised to learn that he had placed himself in harm's way to help someone else.

"That is so Peter," she said, noting that he was the recipient of his department's "Outstanding Student" award the year he graduated.

"He was always engaged, involved with his peers and just an amazing person, so it doesn't surprise me to hear he was trying to help someone," she said. " 'Selfless' is what comes to mind."