6-year-old girl thwarts attempted kidnapping by biting the suspect

MIAMI (TCD) — A 6-year-old girl stopped an alleged attempted kidnapping after using self-defense methods she learned from her mother.

According to WSVN-TV, on Thursday, July 6, Ah’Lyric was playing with her siblings in the courtyard of her apartment on NE 2nd Avenue when they noticed a white Range Rover parked nearby. Her siblings reportedly went inside to get some water, but Ah’Lyric stayed outside near some stairs.

The suspect, 32-year-old Leonardo Venegas, allegedly approached Ah’Lyric, grabbed her arm, and pulled her near the back of the stairs. She managed to get away from him, but he then reportedly picked her up and started carrying her away. Ah’Lyric bit Venegas in response.

She told WSVN, “He grabbed me, picked me up, and started running with me and I bit him and then he slapped me and threw me to the floor and started running to his car.”

Ah’Lyric told NBC Miami she learned the self-defense tactic from her mother, who said she was “glad she knew how to fight back.”

Surveillance footage reportedly showed Venegas getting out of a white SUV and walking toward the little girl. A license plate reader reportedly tied Venegas to the car. He was arrested Saturday, July 8, on charges of kidnapping and child abuse causing no bodily harm. He also has an outstanding warrant for an expired license and an immigration hold.

WSVN reports Venegas told police he was in the area because he was looking to buy a house in the complex, but there were reportedly no for sale signs around.

Ah’Lyric’s mother told WSVN, “Many kids don’t know how to defend themselves, so I’m actually happy she was able to defend herself.”