A woman in Atlanta, Georgia, used a gas pump as a weapon to protect her child from an alleged kidnapping attempt at a Shell gas station on July 23. The incident occurred around midnight as the mother was refueling her car.
Surveillance footage captured the moment the suspect, identified by authorities as 30-year-old Jerahn Tucker, approached the vehicle. After an initial exchange, Tucker reportedly backed away but returned when the child opened and closed the passenger door. As the suspect peered into the car, the mother moved to intervene. Her child then exited through the driver's side door, prompting Tucker to pursue him around the car.
The mother then grabbed a nearby gas pump and used it to ward off Tucker. Police stated that Tucker also allegedly attempted to access another child in the backseat before fleeing the scene. He was arrested shortly after by the Marietta Police Department, with assistance from Cobb County Police.
Officers found Tucker without a shirt or shoes at the time of his arrest, and a THC vape was discovered in his car. According to the gas station manager, Tucker had been asked to leave the property multiple times prior to the alleged incident.
Tucker is now facing charges of attempted kidnapping. Marietta Police praised the mother's actions, with Officer Charles McPhilamy stating that her and bystanders' ability to remain calm and alert authorities allowed for the suspect's apprehension. The motive behind the alleged attempted abduction remains unknown.