Emre Karagoz, 12, was waiting to go to the mosque with his father on September 30, when a man wearing a surgical mask entered his father’s jewelry store.
In security footage, Karagoz becomes visibly alert when he sees the robber. The man turns around with his gun, and the boy lunges. Seconds later his father, Mehmet Karagoz, chases the robber out of his shop.
The video is the top trending YouTube video in Germany today.
According to Turkish news site Internet Haber (and Google Translate), police later apprehended the would-be-thief, who lived near the jewelry store.
At time of publication, the video has about 400,000 views and has not been featured on any major English-language media except YouTube.
On YouTube, some have taken to giving Karagoz props, while others debate his bravery.
“Most kids these days are taught to be scared,” MrDrDurp commented. “That kid’s instincts told him to stand up for himself and his father … his principle at the time was to not let someone think they can harm his dad without him doing a damn thing about it. The kid deserves his props.”
“That wasn’t being brave at all, that was being really stupid. After the kid stood up to the robber he had his gun pointed straight at his father. The father is really lucky he didn’t get shot” abreezyc1 wrote.
“All of you quit saying he was lucky … he did something which most of you would be too scared to do :D” added kutabacha1.
Whether Karagoz was lucky or not, YouTuber evenflowjimbo got to the heart of the matter: “Badass kid. I would’ve probably cried and pissed myself.”
