A 36-year-old man attempted to kidnap a 6-year-old boy on a busy Coney Island sidewalk Sunday night, carrying the child like a football before throwing him to the ground when the boy’s parents pursued him.
The brazen attempted abduction shocked witnesses and highlighted ongoing safety concerns in one of New York City’s most popular tourist destinations.
The incident occurred just before 10 p.m. near the corner of Stillwell and Surf avenues, where the suspect, dressed entirely in black including a distinctive fez-style hat, grabbed young Rah’Shem “Rah’Rah” Gantt.
The location sits at the heart of Coney Island’s entertainment district, typically bustling with families and tourists during summer evenings.
Sharon Robinson, 41, the boy’s mother, heard her son’s screams and witnessed the terrifying scene unfold.
“I see this man holding my son like a football, a complete stranger,” Robinson told the New York Post.
The family had spent the evening enjoying typical summer activities at Coney Island, including time at the beach and rides on the Wonder Wheel and other amusement park attractions.
Robinson explained that Gantt was running around excitedly as she tried to get him popcorn when the incident occurred.
The boy had begun trailing behind his parents when the suspect struck.
The timing of the attack suggested the perpetrator had been watching the family or waiting for an opportunity to isolate the child.
Video footage obtained by Freedomnews captured the harrowing moment when the alleged kidnapper pounced on the child and scooped him up with one arm.
The suspect quickly abandoned his plan when he spotted the two adults charging toward him.
He threw the boy to the ground and attempted to flee the scene.
“I guess by flinging him down, he must have thought that I was not going to run to him,” Robinson said. “I was.”
The video shows both parents chasing the suspect onto the street as multiple cars passed through the intersection.
The pursuit continued as the family refused to let the man escape.
The chase concluded when Robinson pushed the alleged abductor, causing him to fall near the IT’SUGAR candy shop on the busy boardwalk.
The confrontation occurred in full view of other visitors to the popular entertainment area.
Robinson described a confusing moment when police officers initially restrained her until witnesses clarified that the tall-hatted man was the actual perpetrator.
“This man’s on the ground for two minutes without anyone handcuffing him,” Robinson observed about the arrest process.
Police assigned to a nearby post eventually arrested the suspect, according to sources familiar with the incident.
As of Monday afternoon, charges against the 36-year-old man were still pending while authorities continued their investigation.
Law enforcement sources indicated that multiple charges could be filed, including attempted kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child.
Young Gantt, whose family resides in Queens, complained of minor pain following the ordeal and was transported to Coney Island Hospital for evaluation.
The precautionary medical examination ensured that the child had not sustained serious injuries during the terrifying encounter.
Medical staff listed the boy in stable condition after examining him for any injuries sustained during the incident.
Robinson described her son’s emotional state following the traumatic experience.
The boy cried “non-stop” after his ordeal, continuing to cry even when the ambulance transported him to the hospital.
“When they got to the emergency room, he was still crying,” Robinson recounted about her son’s condition.
The mother described the entire experience as surreal and emphasized that her family had no prior connection to the suspect.
“We didn’t do nothing to this man. We never saw this man before, ever,” Robinson stated to the Post, expressing her bewilderment at the random nature of the attack.
Robinson expressed her desire for serious legal consequences for the suspect who targeted her family.
“I want full charges on him. I want him to have a felony,” she declared regarding the prosecution of the case.
The mother reflected on how much worse the situation could have become without her son’s quick thinking.
“If Rah’Rah hadn’t made that loud scream, that man would have taken him and done whatever he wanted to do with him, maybe take him under the boardwalk and rape him and kill him.”
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