Lawrence pizza deliveryman wrests handgun from robber

Michele Richinick, Globe Correspondent

A 20-year-old pizza deliveryman wrested a handgun from one of three men who robbed him on Kendrick Street in Lawrence on Monday evening, police said.

When the Supreme Pizza driver arrived at the address around 7:45 p.m., no one came to pick up the pizza, Lawrence Police Chief John Romero said. The deliveryman tried to call the woman who had ordered the pizza and was preparing to leave the area when three men approached him as he stood outside his vehicle.

One of the men shoved a small-caliber gun into the driver's stomach and demanded his money and cellphone, Romero said. When the suspects tried to take his wallet, the driver grabbed the gun and got it away from the man.

One of the suspects then jumped into the deliveryman's vehicle and drove it away, while the others fled the scene on foot. Police later found the Toyota Land Cruiser five blocks away near Elm Street and Lincoln Court.

The suspects, who were all wearing hooded sweatshirts, managed to escape with the driver’s delivery money and cellphone.

Romero said police believed the woman who had ordered the pizza was in league with the robbers. “Nobody in that building ever ordered pizza," he said.

Police recovered the gun and are investigating. No arrests have been made. Police did not release the victim's name.

“We have some good leads – we’ve got the gun,” Romero said.