Lynne Russell (CNN Headline News 1983-2001) survives gunfight with robber

Lynne Russell from 2007. CREDIT: File photo

By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Former CNN Headline News anchor Lynne Russell and her husband, former CNN correspondent Chuck De Caro faced off against a robber at an Albuquerque, N.M. motel. De Caro shot and killed the thief.

De Caro himself was reportedly shot three times by the robber but is expected to survive. Russell was not hurt.

The incident happened at a Motel 6 late Tuesday night. According to KOAT:

Russell said they were exhausted Tuesday night and decided to go to a motel to rest. She went out to the car to get something when a man with a gun grabbed her and dragged her back into the motel room.

Her husband grabbed his gun and the two exchanged gunfire. Russell said the suspect fired first. The suspect was shot and killed. Russell said her husband was hit three times, but is expected to survive.

The couple had stopped in Albuquerque during a cross-country trip, according to a friend Pat Clawson to KOB-TV. “Chuck and Lynne left the Washington, D.C. area several days ago to drive up to California on a working vacation. They stopped in Albuquerque for the night,” Clawson said.

The 68 year old was one of the most colorful anchors CNN has ever employed. She’s been black belt, a bodyguard, a private investigator, a volunteer with the sheriff’s department and a no-words-barred novelist.