SUFFOLK, Va. — A little boy is safe and with family, after Suffolk Police said a woman tried to kidnap the child at Walmart on College Drive.
Keeta Neville, 35, of Norfolk is now behind bars and charged in connection to this case. She is accused, in part, of felony abduction and assault.
Neville approached a mother and the mother's 4-year-old son by the self-checkout and tried to snatch the child, Suffolk police told 13News Now.
Neville is not familiar with child or his mother, police added.
It all happened around 9 a.m. at Walmart in the Harbour View East shopping center.
People who frequent the big-box store are finding out about the news.
"Honestly it shocked me. I'm like 'This stuff is getting way too close to home.' And to know that the mom was right there and then for her to just try to take your kid out of your shopping cart," said Nikki Taylor.
Neville is accused of taking the 4-year-old boy out of the mom’s shopping cart and trying to walk out of the store, according to findings from the preliminary investigation.
"I have goosebumps. It's terrible," said shopper Rose Esperat, after learning about the incident. "I thought it just happened outside but not inside the supermarket."
Police officers said Walmart employees stopped Neville in her tracks.
Shoppers applaud them for stepping in. Because once they did, Suffolk police said Neville put the child down, allowing him to run back to his mom.
"That’s a big help," said Esperat.
A police spokeswoman confirmed to 13News Now that the boy walked out of the situation unharmed.
"So happy for him, his mom and his family right now," Taylor added.
After Neville let the child go, Suffolk police said witnesses recalled seeing her take off running. However, officers said they caught up with her, just a couple minutes later, at the Applebee's on Lake View Parkway across College Drive.
Following the arrest, Neville faces of a list of charges including felony abduction and four counts of felony assault on a law enforcement officer. The latter charges stem from Neville resisting arrest, a police spokeswoman said.
Neville sits behind bars at the Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk, with no bond.
A representative from Walmart also sent 13News Now the following statement, regarding the incident.
"The safety of customers and associates is among our top priorities. We’re grateful to our associates and local police for their quick thinking and responsiveness to this situation, and we’ll work closely with law enforcement throughout their investigation."