Advertisement Police: Woman, 65, shoots would-be robber in chest Investigators say robbery suspect called 911 after shooting Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A 65-year-old Manchester woman shot and injured a man Monday night when he tried to rob her, police said.Click to watch News 9's coverageManchester police said the woman, who did not want to be identified, told them that she shot the man when he tried to grab her while she was trying to get into her apartment building. She said the man had been in a car that followed her into the parking lot of her apartment complex, police said.Police identified the man as Michael Bontaites, 23, of Manchester. He was treated for a serious but not life-threatening chest wound at Elliot Hospital.Police said the woman left work and stopped at the Mobil on the Run gas station on South Willow Street around 11:30 p.m. She told police that a car pulled up quickly behind her at a traffic light and that she became concerned when it followed her into the parking lot at her apartment complex on South Porter Street.She said she tried to park as close to the building as possible, but the car parked near her.After she left her car, she heard another vehicle door close and heard someone approaching her quickly from behind, police said."Something in my head said to take the gun out of my purse," the woman told News 9.With her hand on the gun now in her coat pocket, she told News 9 that she headed toward her apartment. She said she looked behind and saw a man following her.The woman told police that a white man wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt ran past her and blocked her path."Ten feet from the front stairs. That's when he caught up to me, and he came around me and stood right in front of me. Right in my face," she said.The woman told News 9 that the man yelled at her.She said he reached out and tried to grab her, but she pulled her handgun from her pocket and shot him once in the chest at close range."But then when I saw him reach his left arm out to try and grab me, that's when I pulled the gun out and I shot him," she said.Investigators said the woman, described as 4 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing 105 pounds, feared for her safety and has a valid concealed carry permit. Bontaites is described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds.Police said the man fell to the ground while the woman ran inside the building. The man called 911 while he was on the ground."As soon as I shot him, he immediately fell to the ground," the woman said.Investigators said a woman in the dark sedan helped the man off the ground and brought him into the car while yelling at the 65-year-old grandmother, "got to get him to the hospital" before the car sped off.The woman ran into the building and called 911. As officers were responding to the call, another Manchester police officer saw Bontaites at the Elliot Hospital Emergency Room.Bontaites was charged with felony robbery and was arraigned Tuesday from his hospital bed. He is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 14.Police said the investigation is ongoing.The woman told News 9 that she had a valid concealed permit through the Manchester Police Department for more than 10 years."Last night was the first time I ever shot that gun in all the time I've owned it," she said.12967056