Police Search For Armed Robber Who Paralyzed OKC Woman

The search is on for a man who shot a woman during a robbery attempt while she was trying to drive into her garage.

Thursday, December 19th 2013, 7:11 pm

By: News 9


The search is on for a man who shot a woman during a robbery attempt while she was trying to drive into her garage.

That woman, 55-year-old Cheryl Ruaylarp, survived but is now left paralyzed; and the bullet is still lodged in her spine.

Her sister is still brought to tears thinking about what happened. Twila Jones says the gunman did not rob her sister of any money, but what he did take from her is much, much worse.

"My first reaction was, who would hurt her," Jones said.

Jones says Ruaylarp was just driving home -- her husband right by her side -- when they were approached by a man with a gun on December 5 outside their home off S.W. 65th Street.

12/5/2013 Related Story: Police Investigate Shooting In SW OKC, Suspects At Large

"He said, ‘Give me your money.' She says, ‘I didn't have any.' She said he couldn't rob me of money, I didn't have it. But he robbed me anyway. He took my legs."

Within minutes, police swarmed the area but the gunman and his accomplices managed to get away. Witnesses say they were last seen in a tan van. Now, Jones just hopes someone turns them in.

"He meant to shoot to kill because he was going for a head shot. I guess somehow she hit the gas and moved [in] a fraction of a second."

Jones says Ruaylarp is the main caregiver for her family, and she and her aging husband had just celebrated the birth of their first grandchild a couple of months before. Now she fears the shooting will affect not just her sister, but her whole family. And they fear the gunman may strike again.

"I want them caught before they do this to anybody else."

Ruaylarp is currently undergoing rehab to learn how to pull herself up and learn how to use a wheelchair.

But she still has several months of intense therapy ahead.

A fund has been established at MidFirst Bank in her name to help pay for her medical expenses.

If you know anything about this crime, call Crime Stoppers at (405) 235-7300.

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

December 19th, 2013

March 14th, 2024

December 4th, 2023

September 25th, 2023

Top Headlines

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024