SOUTH POINT

A 31-year-old homeless woman is facing robbery and assault charges after a shopper at the South Point Walmart parking lot was allegedly attacked.

According to Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless, an Ironton woman had just left the Walmart and was getting into her car when another woman allegedly ran up to her, struck her and grabbed her purse. She had just left the Walmart at 12:37 p.m. when the attack occurred.

The two women then allegedly struggled for the purse until the victim was knocked to the ground, according to Lawless.

The victim began to yell for help and the suspect started to run across the parking lot.

Other shoppers saw the alleged struggle, chased Kelli Childers of Huntington, W.Va., and held her until deputies arrived.

“The quick actions of bystanders assisted in the capture of this suspect,” Lawless said. “Thankfully, there are concerned people who rushed to the aid of another, who was is in trouble.”

Childers, 31, will be arraigned in Lawrence County Municipal Court on Friday on second -degree felony robbery and first-degree misdemeanor assault charges.

The victim did not need medical attention.