HARKER HEIGHTS, TEXAS - Update 9/30/22: Police have identified a 28-year-old man who's been arrested and charged after reportedly attempting to kidnap a child in Harker Heights Wednesday.

Marco Antonio Gonzalez has been charged with third degree felony kidnapping. He was booked into the Bell County Jail Wednesday afternoon at 5:45 PM, where he remained Friday evening with bond set at $500,000.

As reported earlier this week, witnesses intervened after police say Gonzalez lured a child into his car at the intersection of Ann Boulevard and Beeline Lane. They were able to get the child out safely and return her to her mother.

Harker Heights PD Chief Betiale Hawkins II said Friday the incident remains under investigation.

Our news partners at KWTX-TV spoke with the child's rescuers, who did not want to be identified. They said they'd seen the child walking home from school before, so when she got into the truck of a man they hadn't seen before, they got a bad feeling and jumped into action.

Thank goodness they were there. Can you even imagine if they hadn't been?

This is a lesson to us all: be vigilant, especially when there are children around. If something doesn't look or feel right, step in or get authorities involved. You could save a life.


 

Two good Samaritans are being praised after police say they saved a child who was being abducted in broad daylight in Harker Heights, Texas.

Child Abduction Foiled In Harker Heights

Our news partners at KWTX report that shortly after 4PM on Wednesday, September 28, a young child was lured into a vehicle by a stranger. The attempted abduction took place at the intersection of Ann Boulevard and Beeline Lane.

Thankfully, two unnamed witnesses saw the abduction in progress and intervened. Police say the witnesses were able to take the child out of the car and return her back to her parent unharmed. Law enforcement was also alerted, and the unidentified stranger was taken into custody and placed in the Bell County Jail.

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Officers also said there is no threat to the community after the stranger was arrested.

A Massive Thank You To The Witnesses

It cannot be stated enough that the two witnesses who stopped this crime in progress are heroes for their actions. Without their quick response, a child could be missing from their parent, and there's no telling what could have happened after that. At the time of writing, the witnesses have not been publicly identified.

Whoever these mystery folks are, the Central Texas community cannot thank you enough for getting involved and saving a young life.

Obviously this is a scary situation and every parent's worst nightmare. In fact, two school districts in Central Texas are changing protocols after another attempted abduction reportedly failed because the child fought back and caused a scene.

Given the world we live in these days, it's up to all of us to stay vigilant and act if something seems wrong and a life is on the line - especially a child's.

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