‘Don’t die for a key, bro:’ Postal worker reportedly robbed in Youngstown

A postal worker was robbed while performing his duties delivering the mail around 5 p.m. Wednesday in Youngstown.

According to the Youngstown police report, Johnnie Nash was in the process of delivering mail to the last house on his southside Youngstown route when he was approached by a Black male wearing all-black clothing and a black COVID mask.

The unknown man approached Nash and said, “Don’t die for a key, bro.”

The report states that Nash believed he was being pranked until the would-be robber said, “Don’t play with me” and repeated the prior phrase.

Nash advised the man that the only keys he had were to the USPS van, according to police. The report then states man repeated to Nash again to not die over a key and showed him a black handgun tucked into his waistband.

According to the report, Nash was walked to where the van was parked, near the intersection of Rush Blvd and Hilton Ave, where he had left the keys. When Nash opened the door to retrieve the keys, the man instructed him not to try anything or “he was dead.” The report states that Nash tossed the robber the USPS collection key, which unlocks the street mailboxes, and fled on foot westbound on Hilton Ave.

This story was originally published March 14, 2024 at 1:03 PM.