Kazakhstani student Oljas Kanybek has become a local sensation in Miami, Florida , after successfully fighting back against armed robbers who attempted to hold him up.
The incident, which took place in Miami, involved a local gang attempting to rob Mr. Kanybek near his residence. However, the attackers were foiled when the young Kazakhstani reportedly snatched a gun from them and forced them to flee the scene.
According to a report published on April 18, 2023, Mr. Kanybek had arrived in Miami to study about two weeks prior to the incident. He shared that he had travelled three hours to a specific location for a transaction, having arranged to sell an iPhone 13 he advertised for approximately $200. Upon arriving at a dead-end street, he was approached by one individual, and then two more ran up from behind, demanding his backpack and reportedly putting a gun to his temple. Oljas Kanybek, who explained to medical experts later that he used to box, managed to disarm the attackers, reportedly snatching their weapons.
The police and an ambulance were called to the scene following the successful defense. A Russian-speaking policeman who arrived at the scene was quoted as saying, “no one has ever seen anything like this here.” Mr. Kanybek posted several videos on his Instagram page detailing the ordeal, joking about the comparison of the events to the video game GTA and signing one video with, “American cops are shocked by a Kazakh.”
Despite his heroic actions, the attackers managed to steal his bag, which contained cash, his documents, and a piece of paper with his address of residence in the U.S. As a result, Mr. Kanybek sought assistance from the Kazakh consulate due to fears for his life.
The young man’s bravery quickly garnered support from his compatriots, who viewed the story as the basis for a Hollywood blockbuster.