In a dramatic twist worthy of a Hollywood script, a bold robbery attempt in West Hollywood took an unexpected turn when the would-be thief picked the wrong victim. An eyewitness narrated the unfortunate blunder of a robber who found himself up against a retired wrestler.
The incident unfolded shortly before 1 p.m., as reported by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, on the bustling 900 block of North Sweetzer Avenue. The serene afternoon was abruptly disrupted by the sound of screeching tires and chaos.
The retired wrestler, choosing to remain anonymous, recounted to deputies how the drama began. A man in a dark-colored sedan sped down the street before abruptly halting near where he and his girlfriend were enjoying a leisurely walk.
Meanwhile, Patrick McCloskey, working from the comfort of his home, became an accidental witness to the unfolding scene when he heard a woman’s frantic screams coming from the sidewalk below.
“The chaos was so intense, I didn’t know who jumped who,” he explained. “I ran to the door to see what was happening. At that point, I hear her yell, ‘Get the gun, get the gun!’”
Investigators said the masked suspect exited his vehicle holding a handgun and demanded the victim’s Rolex watch. The victim refused to comply, and the two men began struggling.
“But he didn’t know that the guy was a retired wrestler,” McCloskey told KTLA’s John Fenoglio. “So, he was able to get the gun off the guy and wrestle him down.”
A would-be armed robber was reportedly disarmed and beaten while attempting to steal a man’s Rolex in West Hollywood on Oct. 22, 2025. (Patrick McCloskey)
A would-be armed robber was reportedly disarmed and beaten while attempting to steal a man’s Rolex in West Hollywood on Oct. 22, 2025. (Patrick McCloskey)
A would-be armed robber was reportedly disarmed and beaten while attempting to steal a man’s Rolex in West Hollywood on Oct. 22, 2025. (Patrick McCloskey)
A would-be armed robber was reportedly disarmed and beaten while attempting to steal a man’s Rolex in West Hollywood on Oct. 22, 2025. (Patrick McCloskey)
In footage of the incident, the victim is heard telling a deputy that he took the gunman’s wrist and put the man on the ground before taking the gun away. As his girlfriend threw the gun over a nearby fence, the retired wrestler held the suspect down until law enforcement arrived.
During the struggle, a second male suspect exited the vehicle but then quickly got back in and fled the area before deputies arrived.
“I was told the gun was loaded,” McCloskey said. “The guy who is sort of the hero in all of this, who was able to pin the guy down, told me he saw a bullet in the chamber.”
The victim, according to the WeHo resident, showed no mercy as the attempted robber struggled.
“At one point, the guy’s arm got dislocated, and he just held him down,” he said.
Video footage from the scene obtained by KTLA shows deputies arresting the suspect and recovering the firearm allegedly used during the ordeal.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information about the investigation is urged to contact LASD’s West Hollywood Station.
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