JACKSONVILLE, FL – A woman is facing kidnapping charges after a 9-year-old boy was allegedly abducted from a Jacksonville street while selling water, only to be saved by a quick-thinking Good Samaritan who witnessed the ordeal and intervened.
The incident occurred Thursday night around 9 p.m. near the intersection of Edgewood Avenue and Moncrief Road, when police say the child was approached by a woman in a vehicle. Authorities have identified the suspect as 22-year-old Mikaya Williams.
According to police, Williams attempted to lure the boy into her car by falsely claiming his mother had sent her and offering money for his water. When the child hesitated, officers say Williams placed his cooler in the back seat and forced him into the car.
Detectives say the boy became frightened and began crying as Williams sped off, turning up the music in an apparent attempt to drown out his distress. The child later told officials the suspect was driving fast as he screamed for help.
Fortunately, a bystander who happened to recognize the boy witnessed the alleged abduction. The woman, identified as Shameika Dowell, said her immediate response was to act fast when she saw the child being pulled into the vehicle.
Dowell quickly got into her car and followed Williams, eventually managing to catch up and block the suspect’s vehicle. According to police, Dowell forced open the car’s passenger door, pulled the boy to safety, and retrieved his cooler before the suspect could flee.
Law enforcement officers arrived soon afterward, taking Williams into custody and reuniting the boy with his family. During questioning, Williams reportedly told investigators that she was under the influence of medication at the time.
Police praised Dowell for her swift and courageous actions, stating that her intervention likely prevented a much worse outcome. Williams remains in custody at the Jacksonville jail without bond and is scheduled for a court hearing later this month.