NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.
A frightening incident unfolded Sunday night near the bustling intersection of Stillwell and Surf avenues in Coney Island when a 6-year-old boy was nearly abducted from a crowded sidewalk. According to law enforcement officials and eyewitnesses, a man suddenly grabbed the child as he briefly trailed behind his parents and attempted to flee the scene.
The suspect, described as a 36-year-old male dressed entirely in black and wearing an unusually tall hat, acted without warning just before 10 p.m. Witnesses reported that the man moved quickly to intercept the boy, who was momentarily separated from his parents.
Nora Smiles, a local sneaker shop owner affectionately known as “The Sneaker Lady,” witnessed the harrowing event. Speaking to Freedomnews TV, she recounted how the suspect appeared to target the boy moments before the abduction attempt.
“A man came and was trying to cut him off,” Smiles said. “Then the little boy was trying to spin off of him. The man just grabbed him up and started running with the little boy.”
The child immediately screamed for help and called out for his mother, alerting his parents who quickly gave chase. Surveillance footage obtained by Freedomnews TV captured the suspect holding the boy in one arm while attempting to flee down the street. However, once the man noticed the boy’s parents closing in, he dropped the child onto the sidewalk and sprinted away.
“The parents just chased after the guy and they caught him,” Smiles added.
The video shows the frantic pursuit weaving through traffic as the boy’s parents desperately tried to stop the suspect. Nearby NYPD officers swiftly joined the chase, resulting in the suspect’s quick apprehension and subsequent arrest, according to police sources.
“This was just shocking,” Smiles said. “I’m a mother myself, so I ran over — we all ran over to see what happened.”
Following the incident, the child, who lives with his family in Queens, complained of minor pain but was otherwise stable. He was transported to Coney Island Hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Police have withheld further details about the suspect’s identity or motive, and it remains unclear whether he has a prior criminal record or connection to similar cases. Authorities are actively reviewing all available surveillance footage and conducting a thorough investigation.
The incident has raised concerns about safety in one of New York City’s busiest summer tourist destinations and highlighted the importance of parental vigilance. The NYPD has urged anyone with additional information about the case to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers.
This close call serves as a sobering reminder to families and communities about the need for caution and awareness in public spaces. The swift actions of the boy’s parents and law enforcement prevented what could have been a tragic outcome.
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