Teen fights off attempted kidnapper who followed her home, police say

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga — Police in Gwinnett County are searching for a man they say tried to kidnap a teenager after following her home from a Walmart in Buford.

The incident happened Wednesday night when the 19-year-old went to the store on Buford Drive.

Channel 2's Tony Thomas spoke with the victim Thursday. She tells us she's okay but still shaken up about the incident, so much so that she asked us not to reveal her identity.

According to police, when she left the store she noticed a white BMW parked behind her car.

Police say as she was driving home, she noticed that same car was following her at a distance then it parked down the street from her house.

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When she got to her home and walked to her door, police say the suspect grabbed her from behind.

"As I'm turning around to close it, he's coming right over here, just running," she said. "He said, 'Just come on,' and that was enough for me to know he wanted to take me."

The victim says she thinks he could have probably yanked her out but wasn't using both hands.

"He's holding his pants like he has a gun or a weapon. He was worried too much about holding his pants that he just grabbed me with one hand," she said.

The victim says she screamed and as her mother came running to the door, he let go and ran off. She was left with a small scratch on her arm.

On Thursday morning, police tell us shortly after 8 a.m., Jamez Maclin, 23, tried to report his car as stolen from an address in Buford.

911 dispatchers and police made the connection that the car reported stolen was related to the attempted kidnapping from the night before.

By the time police arrived, they say Maclin had left. Police told Thomas they haven't been able to find him.

Maclin is charged with kidnapping and battery.

"He knows the police are after him so he might try to take revenge. I don't know what this man is capable of. If he was capable of getting inside my house, I think he's capable of anything," the victim said.

If you have a tip that could lead to his arrest, you can call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS.

Cox Media Group