13-year-old escapes abduction attempt by armed man in Detroit

DETROIT (WJBK) - A chilling experience for a Detroit teen when a man with a gun grabbed her by the arm on her way to school.

The 13-year-old girl and her 5-year-old brother luckily avoided an abduction attempt by a man Wednesday Morning

Detroit police say the two were walking to Regent Park Scholars Charter Academy from Liberal Street around 7:50 a.m. passed an abandoned home on Lappin.

"There are houses like this all through this neighborhood," a neighbor said.

Police say the man was armed with a gun and tried to grab the young girl.  The girl and her brother got away and ran to school.

Resident Tina Shaw lives across the street from the abandoned eye-sore house. Shaw says two years ago; a girl was abducted in the same area.

"We've also had two girls raped in that house since we've been here," she said. "So, they've boarded it up twice but they're not doing anything with the house."

Police are investigating while city officials say the home is in review for demolition. The city sent out crews Wednesday to reassess, board it up, and secure it again.

"It's not going to stop until they do something with that property," Shaw said.

But in the meantime:

"I think we all need to keep our eyes open for this person out there," said another neighbor. "Help the police."