Blvd Mall robbery suspects behind bars

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - One day after a 22-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint in the Boulevard Mall parking lot, shoppers remain shocked and the two suspects stay behind bars.

RELATED | On Saturday, the male suspects accused of pulling the robbery, Fardadt Vahdat, 22, and Dominic Natarseh, 25, were arraigned in Amherst Town Court.

The judge said one of the men jumped on top of the victim inside her car, put an air soft pistol to her head, and then stole her purse and a credit card before jumping into another vehicle.

Officials say two witnesses followed the suspects' car and called police which helped track them down.

Customer Carol Bedard said, "It's scary; you know that early it's still light out and you're not safe."

Police searched the suspects' vehicle and say they found the victim's purse and the gun used during the robbery.

In court, Natarseh told the judge he only drove the getaway vehicle. However, police have not confirmed which man drove the car.

They both face multiple charges including robbery, grand larceny, and criminal use and possessions of a weapon. The men were ordered by the judge to stay away from the victim.

A felony hearing at the Amherst Town Court will take place Wednesday, March 20th. They are currently being held at the Erie County Holding Center.

This is the second time someone was attacked outside the Boulevard Mall. A Syracuse man stabbed two security guards last November while trying to stop him from stealing.

Mall officials had no comment when News 4 reached out to them regarding a possible increase in security due to Friday's incident.