Women Thwart Armed Kidnapper Trying To Snatch Baby From Stroller: LBPD

LONG BEACH, CA — A man and woman are in custody after allegedly trying to kidnap a baby from two women at gunpoint in Long Beach Saturday afternoon, the Long Beach Police Department announced Sunday.

The attempted kidnapping was thwarted by the women who fought off the would-be kidnappers, according to police.

The would-be kidnapping occurred shortly after noon Saturday in the area of Pine Avenue and 10th Street. The women were walking their baby in a stroller when they were approached by a woman with a gun, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

"The suspect pointed the firearm at one of the adult victims and demanded the baby," according to investigators. "A struggle for the stroller ensued between the suspect and two women, which subsequently ended when a vehicle driven by a second suspect, a man, pulled up near the scene and discharged a perceived firearm in the direction of the victims."

After that, the suspect let go of the stroller and fled into the waiting car, according to police.

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It didn't take long for police to find the alleged kidnappers. Within a few hours, detectives identified the suspects and located a vehicle matching theirs, according to police.

At about 8:45 p.m. Saturday police approached the vehicle in the 400 block of South Occidental Avenue in Los Angeles. Both suspects as well as two airsoft replica firearms were inside the vehicle, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

The pair — Stacie Earnestine Wilson, 55, and Walter Keshone Sullivan, 45 — were taken into custody without incident and transported to Long Beach city jail for booking on suspicion of felony kidnapping and felony assault with a deadly weapon. Both Los Angeles residents are being held on $100,000 bail.

Authorities are still trying to determine the motivation.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact the Long Beach Police Department Gang Detail at (562) 570-7370. Anonymous tips may be submitted through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.