Dramatic events unfolded in San Antonio, Texas, when Myrajah Deshjonae Rankin, a 19-year-old freshman student at the University of the Incarnate Word and track and field team sprinter, allegedly attempted to kidnap a three-year-old boy outside of the Villa Rodriguez apartment complex on the northeast side of the city.
According to court documents, the child’s mother, 28-year-old, saw the Rankin approaching her son and instructed her to leave. However, a scuffle ensued when both the woman and Rankin grabbed onto the boy at the same time. During the altercation, Rankin allegedly shouted, and then brutally stabbed the mother twice in the forearm, before fleeing with the three-year old.
Witnesses were able to take chase, pursuing Rankin with the metal fence proving inconveniently large for the sprinter. In the chaos, Rankin was apprehended by a nearby worker and the three-year-old returned to safety. Rankin found her way into a nearby apartment, where she stole crosses from the kitchen, and a pair of scissors from the closet, before being taken into custody by the authorities.
Videos of the police apprehending Rankin show the officers with their guns drawn. Witnesses reported that Rankin was acting strange and that she might have been attempting an exorcism. The University of the Incarnate Word has since released a statement, acknowledging the incident and their cooperation with the San Antonio Police Department in their investigation.
This incident serves as a warning of the potential dangers when anyone, let alone a strange person, approaches a child. To ensure the safety of children, it is important to invest time in educating them on the risks, as well as teaching them to be aware of their surroundings and strangers. Aside from the bravery and quick-wit of the child’s mother, it is also vital that justice is perused and Rankin is held accountable for her alleged actions. She is considered innocent until proven guilty and is entitled to a due trial.