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A young girl in West Palm Beach, Florida, packed quite a punch as she helped fend off a robber that shoved her mom down to the ground.

Journee Nelson, a 9-year-old girl- and her mother were just wrapping up their grocery shopping at Sabor Tropical Supermarket and putting the groceries in the car about two weeks ago when the career criminal forcefully grabbed the mother’s purse before knocking her down and instructing her to release the purse, FOX13 reported.

“You’re going to make me pop you,” the suspect reportedly told Danielle Mobley as he reached for his waistband.

But that’s when Journee ran around the car, throwing punches at her mother’s assailant and hitting him right in the face.

Watch the security footage that caught the brave pint-sized girl in action:

(Video Credit: FOX 35 Orlando)

“I fought back. I had to save my mom,” the fourth-grader told WSVN.

Although the video cut out, Journee’s mother told WPTV that she continued fighting as she tried to chase him about four houses down the block.

On Thursday, Journee was rewarded with a medal, certificate, and gift card from one of her favorite stores from the West Palm Beach Police Chief who called her actions “perfect timing.”

“I wouldn’t recommend that you confront an individual like that but in the heat of the moment things happen. I bet he was shocked when she kicked him right in the face because he definitely could tell on the video that he was not expecting that, and her actions were perfect timing in this particular situation, and I think she hit him pretty hard,” said Chief Frank Adderley.

Chief Adderley honored a 9-year old child today for bravery as she ran to her mother’s defense to fend off a brazen robber. An #arrest was swiftly made in this case.

The West Palm Beach Police Foundation presented the child with a token of appreciation. pic.twitter.com/r9tz8PoacW

— West Palm Beach PD (@WestPalmPD) November 18, 2021

“I’m very proud of her that was her initial reaction,” said Mobley. “I wish we, sometimes, things could be a little different because she is still dealing with this mentally.”

Many others applauded her quick-thinking bravery on social media.

God bless you, Journey. You are a brave and resourceful young lady.

— R.C. (@Bzboyzmom) November 21, 2021

Journee Nelson, you are not only brave for defending your mom, but girl, you’re really fast too! 💕

— Linda (@chloerose1000) November 19, 2021

What an extraordinarily brave child. Of all that is happening in society, good to read about stuff like this. Great job kid. 👏

— fish fry for a brown guy (@shyamvenkri) November 21, 2021

Leave it to a little girl to show the men what they should be doing. When you see these things that is the proper response.

— Edward Payne (@EdwardP02544662) November 21, 2021

You go girl!! Proud go you!!

— Judy Nutter (@nutterbutter39) November 21, 2021

The suspect, Demetrius Jackson, was arrested just two days after the incident on battery and robbery charges.

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