FLORIDA – What began as an ordinary pit stop for an elderly couple traveling through Florida turned into a dramatic struggle that ended with police officers tackling a suspected carjacker at a gas station — an incident that has left the couple shaken but grateful to be safe.
Authorities say the couple, visiting from Virginia, had been on the road for hours before pulling off the highway to refuel. The husband exited the vehicle to use the restroom, leaving his wife inside the car. At that moment, their otherwise quiet afternoon turned into a scene straight out of a crime drama.
According to investigators, a woman who had been standing nearby approached the vehicle, suddenly opened the driver’s door, and climbed in.
“I didn’t even see her until the door opened,” the husband recalled later while giving his statement. “I was just stepping away to go to the restroom. The next thing I know, she’s in my car. I grabbed her leg and kept telling her, ‘Get out! Get out of the car!’ But she didn’t say a word. She just sat there like she wasn’t even hearing me.”
The man says he held the suspect by her ankle for several minutes, desperately trying to prevent her from taking control of the car and putting his wife — and their three-year-old grandchild, who was also traveling with them — in danger.
When deputies arrived, the situation escalated quickly. Body camera footage shows officers shouting commands for the woman to step out of the car. She initially refused to comply, forcing deputies to physically remove her from the vehicle.
“Step out. Step out. Put your hands behind your back,” one officer is heard saying on the video. Moments later, the suspect was on the ground in handcuffs.
Investigators report that the husband, fearing for everyone’s safety, had retrieved his legally owned firearm but kept it pointed down and never discharged it.
“I was worried she might have a weapon,” he told deputies. “I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, but I was ready to defend my family if I had to.”
Deputies ran a check on the vehicle the suspect had been near and found it registered under her name. Witnesses reported seeing two other individuals at the gas station who may have been connected to the suspect, raising concerns about a possible coordinated carjacking attempt.
Initially, the husband told deputies he did not want to press charges because it would require him to return from Virginia to attend court hearings in Florida.
“We’re a long way from home,” he said. “I hate to have to come back here. I just wanted her out of the car so we could leave.”
However, after further discussion with officers, he agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Deputies confirmed that the case will move forward as a felony carjacking attempt, regardless of the victim’s initial reluctance.
Law enforcement officials praised the man for his quick thinking and restraint. “He did everything right,” one deputy said. “He kept the situation under control until we arrived, and nobody was seriously hurt.”
The suspect is currently in custody as detectives continue their investigation. Authorities are also reviewing surveillance footage from the gas station to identify the other two individuals who were allegedly present during the incident.
The couple says they are still shaken by what happened but relieved that it ended without bloodshed.
“It’s scary to think how quickly things can happen,” the wife said softly while filling out her written statement. “You don’t expect something like this when you’re just stopping for gas.”
This incident is a stark reminder that carjackings and vehicle theft attempts can occur anywhere, even in broad daylight. Authorities encourage drivers to remain alert, keep their doors locked when outside their vehicle, and immediately call 911 if they feel threatened.
