Woman robbed at gunpoint at Blvd Mall

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - Witnesses to an armed robbery in the Boulevard Mall parking lot are credited with helping Amherst Police catch the suspects.

Authorities say around 4:30 p.m. on Friday, a 22-year-old woman getting into her vehicle was approached by a man with a gun who demanded her purse. She handed it over and the suspect fled on foot to a waiting vehicle operated by another man.

Two witnesses who saw this event take place pursued the suspects' vehicle, calling police and helping officers catch up to the vehicle at Niagara Falls Boulevard and Sheridan Drive.

Fardadt Vahdat, 22, of Amherst and Dominic Natarseh, 25, of Buffalo were arrested. After obtaining a warrant, officers searched the car and found the victim's purse and the gun used in the robbery.

Both Vahdat and Natarseh are charged with first degree robbery, fourth degree grand larceny, second degree criminal use of a firearm and second degree criminal possession of a weapon.

The suspects are being held at Amherst Police headquarters pending their arraignments.