Purse used by Fla. school board member to smack gunman fetches $13,100 on eBay

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - The now-famous purse that a Panhandle school board member used to smack gunman Clay Duke sold on the auction site eBay for $13,100, according to the Florida television station that organized the event to raise money for charity.

The winning bid for the fake crocodile-leather purse came from an unidentified man in Alexandria, Va.

Shortly after the top bid was confirmed Wednesday night, the amount of money raised for charity doubled when Brahmin, the New England handbag company, announced it would match the winning bid, the TV station reported.

In a statement, Brahmin said it wanted to recognize the "tremendous courage" of Bay County School Board member Ginger Littleton "in taking action to stand up for others while risking her own life."

"That's just amazing," Littleton told The Walton (Fla.) Sun. "I am thrilled to death that the purse will have another life and will do some good in the community."

Proceeds from the auction and the Brahmin donation will go to Salvage Santa, a charity started by the school board security guard, Mike Jones. Salvage Santa restores old bicycles and gives them to Panhandle children during the holidays.

Jones is the person who shot and wounded Duke earlier this month after Duke pulled a gun and threatened officials during a school board meeting.

Duke had allowed some people to leave the meeting, including Littleton, who before he was shot by Jones crept up on Duke from behind and swung her purse at him in an attempt to dislodge the gun from Duke's hand.

Duke, who had told school board officials he was upset that his wife had been fired from the school district, eventually shot and killed himself.

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