A neighborhood is on alert as Detroit Police investigate the attempted abduction of two children on their way to school Wednesday morning.
A 13-year old girl who attends Regent Park Scholars Charter Academy told police a man grabbed her as she and her 10-year old brother were walking to school around 7:30 a.m.
The young teen said she told her brother to run while the man was pointing a gun at her head at the corner of Redmond and Lappin streets on Detroit's east side. She told officers she then managed to break free and ran directly to the school, where she reported the incident.
Trenice Marshall's grandchildren all attend school in the neighborhood and she was shocked to learn that an incident had taken place so close to them.
"These are my grandbabies," she said, as her three grandchildren stood nearby. "I would like to protect them as much as I can."
"When the time they have to be at school is like 7:30, and it's still dark out here so you have to be careful, you know. That's why I walk mine's too school everyday and I pick them up everyday."
Regent Park Scholars Charter Academy released this statement regarding the incident:
"The safety and security of our students at Regent Park Scholars is the highest concern for National Heritage Academies. Local authorities have been contacted regarding this morning's incident, and an investigation is underway. National Heritage Academies will cooperate fully with local law enforcement as they seek to get to the bottom of this, and want to assure parents and the community that we take seriously maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for our students. We continue to encourage parents and students to report any suspicious activity."
