A chilling surveillance video has captured the moment a kidnapping suspect lured a 6-year-old boy away from his home in a northwest Miami-Dade neighborhood over the weekend.
The incident unfolded on Saturday afternoon near the 1300 block of Northwest 79th Street. Jose Reynaldo Martinez Reyes, 56, is accused of approaching the child, identified as Jake Rivera, while he was playing soccer with his older brother in their front yard.
“The guy came over to me and said, ‘Do you wanna come with me?’ And I said sure,” Jake told local NBC6.
READ: Victim Set On Fire By Illegal Immigrant In New York Identified As New Jersey Woman
According to police, when Jake’s older brother went inside briefly, Martinez Reyes seized the opportunity to engage the boy, offering to play soccer with him. He then lured Jake away from the home with the promise of buying him a toy.
The surveillance footage shows Martinez Reyes leading Jake away on foot. When the older brother realized Jake was missing, he and a family friend frantically searched the neighborhood.
“I was sleeping and my cousin woke me up and said my little cousin was abducted by a man,” said Alfredo Velasquez, Jake’s cousin.
READ: Court Ruling Denies Injunction Against Florida Prison Policy Withholding Inmate Sex Changes
Fortunately, they located Jake more than a mile away on 24th Avenue. Velasquez described the tense moment to NBC6, “His older brother came in, pushed him, and punched him just to get his brother back, put him in the car.”
Martinez Reyes was apprehended and is now facing charges of kidnapping and interference with custody.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.