A routine trip to McDonald’s in Brooklyn turned frightening for a family after a woman allegedly tried to pull a 4-year-old boy away from his grandmother, according to the boy’s mother.
The incident happened Monday, Sept. 14, near a McDonald’s on Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights neighborhood, where the child, identified by his mother as J’Mark, was with his grandmother.
J’Mark’s mother, Anyia James, said she and her husband were across the street when she received a phone call from her mother. The grandmother was frightened and told her that a stranger was trying to take the child.
James immediately rushed toward the restaurant.
When she arrived, James said her mother and the woman were each holding one of the boy’s arms. The confrontation became a struggle as the grandmother tried to keep the child with her.
James said the woman insisted that J’Mark belonged to her, leaving the family stunned by what was happening.
The boy began crying during the struggle. James was eventually able to get her son away from the woman, who then ran from the area. No physical injuries were reported.
The incident has since prompted a police search for the woman. Surveillance images released by the NYPD show a woman authorities are seeking in connection with the reported attempted abduction. Police are asking anyone who recognizes her or has information about the incident to come forward.
According to additional reporting, the incident occurred at about 5 p.m. near Eastern Parkway and Utica Avenue. The suspect was described in surveillance images wearing a white shirt, black shorts and black sandals.
James said her son is now safe, but the experience left him shaken. For the family, the incident has also reinforced how quickly an ordinary outing can turn into an emergency.
James urged other parents and caregivers to stay alert when children are in public places and to keep young children close.
The NYPD continues to seek information that could help identify the woman. Anyone with information can contact the department’s Crime Stoppers program at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted online, and police say information can be provided confidentially.
