Suspect sought after teen carjacked at knifepoint in East Central Fresno
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A 15-year-old girl was carjacked at knifepoint Friday morning. Her parents are anxiously hoping for the suspect's arrest.
The young victim was sitting in a car at her family's apartment complex in East Central Fresno when she was targeted. One suspect accused of driving the carjacker is in custody, but the man who stole the car at knifepoint is still on the run.
It was Friday morning before school when the two suspects pulled up to steal the car. Police say 34-year-old Dennis Gann, who's since been arrested, dropped off the main suspect and stayed in the getaway car. That's when the main suspect, who still hasn't been identified or caught, forced 15-year-old Alizea Stelton to hand over the vehicle.
Still in shock, Stelton recounts the terrifying moments before she was forced out of her dad's car at knifepoint.
"He pulled my phone out of my lap and threw my headphones at me, and then he reached over me and pulled my backpack and told me to get out," said Stelton.
Her dad, Jason Botello, was just a few feet away inside their apartment when the man put a knife to Stelton's neck and stole their idling car.
"The guy who did whatever he did to her is apparently still on the loose, and he better just get out of town. Just do yourself a favor and leave," said Botello.
Suspect number two, Gann, was arrested shortly after the crime. Then, at an intersection just blocks from the victim's apartment complex, two separate people were found driving the stolen car. They were also taken into custody.
"At least one of them is arrested, makes me feel a little bit safer, but knowing the one that actually pulled the knife on me still scares me," said Stelton.
Stelton describes the main suspect as a Hispanic adult male with a strong but shorter build. She says her family will rest easy once he's finally in jail.
The victims say their main takeaway from this is to be very aware of your surroundings and never leave your car idling.
