90-Year-Old Man Robbed by Masked Gunman Outside Church

A 90-year-old man was robbed outside a Minnesota church Thursday by a gunman wearing a mask from the popular horror movie "Scream."

Howard Kidder, who told the Star Tribune he has worshipped at the church for 78 years, said the armed suspect demanded money from him around 12:30 p.m.

“I doled out a five dollar tip and told him he had a spectacular costume, or words to that effect,” Kidder reportedly said. “Things deteriorated at that point.”

(Image source: Shutterstock)

The gunman then revealed his weapon to Kidder who then became nervous.

“Well, it got my attention right away,” Kidder said, speaking of the gun. “I backed off right away because I was afraid I was going to be shot.”

According to the Star Tribune, Kidder then surrendered his wallet containing cash and two credit cards. The suspect then fled the scene, reportedly accompanied by two teenagers in plainclothes who had been standing away from the immediate area.

“It was pretty obvious to me that they knew the character in the mask,” Kidder reportedly said of the two teens. “We didn’t introduce each other.”

The Star Tribune notes the crime is "especially egregious" because of Kidders decades of service to the community and church.

“He brings me flowers all the time,” church secretary Kaite Knack reportedly said. “He brings me lunch. He’s too sweet a guy for something like this to happen to.”

“He’s … an anchor to the congregation,” Pastor Dennis Alexander reportedly added. “He’s here every Sunday.”

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