TJ Smith was playing outdoors with several other kids on a Saturday afternoon in Wichita Falls, Texas, when he noticed an unknown man approaching his 7-year-old neighbor as she rode her scooter. TJ originally assumed the man was the little girl’s relative, but the 11-year-old immediately sensed something was different.
TJ said that the man grabbed her up and started walking. He chased after him. He assumed it was her relative or someone. When the child realized he couldn’t stop the man and that the man didn’t appear to be the girl’s family, he dashed to the nearest adult. TJ started hammering on another neighbor’s door, pleading for assistance.
Brad Ware, a dad himself, recalled the moment a frantic TJ arrived at his home. Brad, Brad, this person just took this young child, TJ shouted, according to Ware who leaped from the couch and hurried out the door with his wife. Brad turned around after trying to pursue the guy on foot and drove after the accused kidnapper. TJ was sprinting while Brad’s wife drove behind her husband.
Other neighbors who witnessed the guy depart with the girl finally guided Brad in the direction of an alley, which led him to a deserted home. TJ was already at the abandoned house when he arrived. He moved behind the house, TJ said to Ware, who rounded the corner to locate the man, who appeared to be going to throw the girl out a window.
Brad’s wife started screaming at the suspect, urging him to put the child down. He fled on foot after throwing the girl to the ground, yet Brad wasn’t going to let him get away. He tracked down the alleged kidnapper, tackled him to the ground, and held him until the police came.
However, the cops had already arrived. The frightened mother of the girl told them what was going on and guided them in the direction of the supposed kidnapper and the courageous neighbors. Police detained the man, subsequently recognized as Raeshawn Perez, 26 years old, and charged him with aggravated abduction.
During an interview with investigators, it was clear that TJ Smith and Brad Ware had spared this little girl from more misery, as Perez stated he planned to have sex with her and then take her home. Furthermore, when Brad was holding him on the ground, he inquired as to what he was doing. Perez said, he is just trying to get a little (deleted), Brad told cops. The pervert was arrested and his bond was set at $50,000 at the Wichita County Jail.
TJ has been lauded as a hero, and rightly so. If he were a small girl, he’d be afraid too, said the courageous young guy, who was awarded an Honorary Police Member badge by the Wichita Falls Police Department for his efforts. TJ Smith wore it to school as well. According to Brad Ware, this was a significant lesson learnt.
This event right here was an eye-opener, you know, Ware said, noting that he hopes to spend more time outside as the neighborhood kids play in the future.
Since everyone might be affected. What this evil planned to occur to this little child was prevented by an 11-year-old boy. One understand, he’s the one that more or less stopped this kid from being killed or raped, Ware said of TJ. He isn’t the only one who believes the youngster is a hero.
It was great for him to go by himself like that and chase a man, but it was also dangerous, said Pamela Brown, a neighbor. Although she admits to being afraid, she praised TJ for acting when he witnessed the guy abduct the small child. He could have gotten him as well.”
God bless this brave young guy. Unfortunately, there are grownups who would not have bravely done what he did. A 7-year-old child was spared more physical and mental anguish as a result of his unselfish and brave actions. Imagine what might have occurred if TJ had overlooked what he saw.
TJ has also taught many adults a hard lesson. This, as Brad pointed out, could occur to anyone. And a hero like TJ Smith may not always be around to stop it. Maintain a close eye on your children, since somebody else could be observing them with malicious purposes. Always keep an eye out for our neighbors, just like this young man did.
