COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A convicted felon was arrested after he attempted to abduct a mother at gunpoint from the parking lot of a Marietta Kroger earlier this month.
The incident happened on Dec. 6 around 9 a.m. at the Kroger on Powers Ferry Place, according to warrants.
Channel 2′s Michele Newell spoke to police, who said the suspect, Randy Harmon, was looking for a victim that day when he saw the victim, who Channel 2 Action News is not identifying, park her car and go inside the store.
Police said Harmon, who is a convicted felon, parked beside the victim’s car and waited nearly an hour until she came out of the store. As the victim loaded her groceries into her Nissan Sentra, police said Harmon pressed a gun against her side and pushed her into the car’s passenger seat.
After Harmon and the victim struggled over the gun, the victim was able to open the passenger door just as Harmon gunned the accelerator. The victim was tossed out of the car, where she was left bloodied and bruised, but alive.
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Newell exclusively to the victim about her scary encounter on Channel 2 Action News at 5 p.m. Wednesday. She didn’t want to show her face on TV, but said she is thankful to be alive.
The victim said she screamed when she felt the gun pressed to her side, but Harmon slammed the door and moved the gun from her side to her face.
“That’s when I realize that I was in major trouble. I just remember calling on God, and I said, ‘Jesus!’ probably about three times,” the victim said. “My life was in danger and I had no idea when he was taking me and what he had in mind to do with me.”
The victim managed to flip the lock on the car’s passenger side.
“He slammed on the gas and I went flying out the door, and that’s how I got away,” the victim said.
The victim injured both of her knees when she fell out of the car.
Cobb County police located the victim’s car nearby with all her belongings still inside.
Later that night, police found a different stolen vehicle and arrested Harmon, who was behind the wheel. Officers were able to determine that the vehicle Harmon was driving was the same one he used to drive to the Kroger and attempt to abduct the victim.
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Marietta Deputy Police Chief Martin Ferrell said in a statement:
“The Marietta Police Department would like to publicly commend (the victim) for her determination, courage, and resilience in the face of danger. Law Enforcement agencies preach RUN HIDE FIGHT and/or AVOID DENY DEFEND regularly, and (the victim) absolutely used those same principles while being attacked by a man with a gun. We are grateful that she is safe, and that her property was all recovered.”
Harmon has been charged with attempted kidnapping, hijacking a motor vehicle, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and gun charges.
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