Good Friday Churchgoer Robbed At Gunpoint; Good Samaritan Donates Money

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – A Sacramento churchgoer's Good Friday went from tragedy to triumph when he lost his life savings to a gunman inside a church only to have the money replaced hours later by a Good Samaritan.

The robbery took place just after 5:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church on T Street in Sacramento.

"It is unusual for a crime like this to occur in a church on a Good Friday," said Sacramento Police Sgt. Mike Nichols.

The victim, Santiago Ramirez, who is planning to become a priest, tells CBS13 that he had gone to church to say his Good Friday prayers.  When he had finished, he went to use the restroom.  When Ramirez came out, he was confronted by a man with a gun.

The gunman made him get on his knees, put his hands behind his head and threatened to kill him if the victim did not handover his wallet and cellphone.  The gunman left after getting the items from the victim.

Ramirez says he had brought his life savings of $2,000 in cash to church to give to another parishioner who had fallen on hard times and needed a car.

After seeing the story of the robbery on CBS13 and Good Day Sacramento, a Good Samaritan, who does not want to be identified, went the to the church and donated money to Ramirez so he could help his friend.

"I'll take care of him, let me put it that way," said the man who donated the money to Ramirez. "It means a lot, on Good Friday, it means a lot."  The man said he just wanted to "pay it forward".

"God bless him.  He's so happy now," said Lino Otero, Pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church said of Ramirez.

Ramirez described the gunman as a bald white man in his 30's about 5'6" tall wearing jeans and a sweatshirt Father Otero said Ramirez and others in the church at the time did not recognize the suspect, so he does not believe he is a parishioner at the church.

Police are still investigating.