A frightening incident unfolded over the weekend on a Brooklyn sidewalk, where a masked man allegedly attempted to kidnap a 6-year-old boy right as he held his father’s hand. Surveillance footage captured the disturbing moment on a bustling block of Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The father and son were heading to a Sabbath gathering when the alleged attack occurred.
The Shocking Attempt and Family’s Reaction
WABC-TV reported that the masked male, identified as 28-year-old Stephen Sowe, grabbed the boy with such force that he yanked him off the ground, though the child’s father held on tightly. Despite the sudden pull, the father refused to let go, keeping his son firmly by his side. The father swiftly turned and pushed the attacker, ending the ordeal within seconds.
“I don’t think it was a hate crime, but it was scary,” the mother of the boy told WABC, emphasizing her shock over the unexpected assault. She shared her relief at how her husband and son managed to stay connected throughout the terrifying experience.
A Known Neighbor Behind the Mask
In a twist, the boy’s mother revealed to WABC that the suspect is not only familiar but lives in their neighborhood. “He’d always hold the door; he always was nice,” she noted, adding that the couple had interacted with the man before and had never witnessed any unusual behavior.
However, the mother acknowledged hearing from other neighbors that the suspect might have been dealing with personal issues on that particular day. While rising anti-Semitic incidents in the city have heightened concerns within their community, she clarified that she does not believe this incident was driven by hate.
“It was like a scary incident. When you live in New York, you don’t expect someone to attack a six-year-old and take him away from his parents,” boy’s mother told WABC.
Seeking Justice and Moving Forward
Despite the incident’s unsettling nature, the family is choosing to focus on healing. The mother expressed pride in how her husband and son handled the situation and confirmed that her son would be receiving therapy to help process the traumatic event. As the case moves forward, the family remains hopeful that justice will be served in court.
Sowe now faces charges of attempted kidnapping, harassment, and endangering the welfare of a child.
Related Incidents
This incident follows an October case in which a man was charged with a hate crime after reportedly shouting anti-Semitic threats in another Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn. During Yom Kippur, the suspect, Muhammad Hashim, allegedly targeted a 43-year-old man in Borough Park with death threats, according to police.
With an unsettling increase in violent incidents, many families in these communities are urging for heightened awareness and stronger measures to protect children and loved ones from potential harm.
