MANASSAS, Va. -- As police searched for a would-be kidnapper Wednesday, a 9-year-old Bristow boy was hailed a hero for saving his 5-year-old brother from the abduction attempt.
Walking home from a friend’s house about 5:30 p.m. Monday, the two boys decided to cut between two homes near the intersection of Noltland Castle Drive and Lennice Way.
A man then approached the two from behind and grabbed the 5-year-old, said Prince William police spokeswoman Erika Hernandez.
The 9-year-old rushed to his brother’s aid and pushed the younger boy to the ground, effectively freeing him of the would-be abductor’s grasp, said police.
The attacker ran from the scene, and the children ran home.
The 9-year-old told police the attacker was white, between 40 and 50 years old, about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a small silver hoop earring in his right ear and a goatee. He wore a yellow polo shirt with a pocket on the left chest and light blue jeans.
Police canvassed the neighborhood of single family homes Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, passing out fliers detailing the incident, encouraging anyone with information about the case to call authorities. They also asked parents to tell their children to report suspicious activity, and to not let their young children walk alone.
“This is not a gated community, which is something that appealed to a lot of us when we moved in here,” said Debra Kelly, who has lived in the neighborhood for six years. “Parents need to pay close attention to their children.“
Police are still working to determine if the person the 9-year-old described has been seen in the area before.
Parents said e-mails about the incident have been circulated around various schools and sports and neighborhood groups.
Monique Cox moved into the neighborhood a week ago with her husband and 4-year-old son. The thought of a child abductor in her back yard is scary, she said.
“All we heard was that he pushed his brother to the ground and the man ran away. It kind of makes you thankful that the whole thing stopped there and the kids got away,” said Cox.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-530-3905.
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