13-year-old Detroit boy abducted at gunpoint, police say

A 13-year-old boy from Detroit was reportedly abducted at gunpoint by a man late on Tuesday (31 May), reveals surveillance video released by police. Deontae Mitchell was last seen with cousin outside of Nino's Market and his abduction by the armed man was caught on video. An Amber Alert was issued for the boy.

According to ClickOnDetroit, police are describing the suspect as a black man between 5ft 8in and 5ft 10in tall and weighing between 185 and 190lbs. "Turn yourself in without incident," Detroit Police Chief James Craig said during a news conference on 1 June. "We will find you, I've said this before and every time we say it, we do it. We have good images. We know facts ad people in the neighbourhood know who you are. So save yourself the trouble and turn yourself in."

"I want my grandson home," the boy's grandmother Vernice Ellington said during the press conference. "I miss him and I love him."

According to the Detroit Free Press, police said Mitchell may have taken money from a man who had been urinating outside of the store and who may have been intoxicated. That same man is believed to be the suspect who grabbed Mitchell by the arm, forced him into his vehicle and drove off. Detroit Police Chief James Craig said the man carried a nickel-plated revolver throughout the encounter.

The unnamed kidnapper, who is considered armed and dangerous, was last seen driving a black Chevrolet Impala. "All we know is that he came to the store and he was kidnapped," Mitchell's cousin, Aniesha Hodge, told reporters. "A grown man snatched him off his bike, and our other little cousin ran off running asking for help."

Police said the suspect's motive is unclear, though there is "speculation" that the abduction could be retaliation for the stolen money. "That's certainly no reason to abduct a 13-year-old, a child," Craig said. Police added there is a possibility that a second individual was in the vehicle during the kidnapping, but that it has not been confirmed.

The FBI has joined the local investigation. The boy was described as being 4ft 11in tall and weighing 86lbs. He was wearing a lime green Nautical shirt, gray jogging trousers and black trainers at the time of his abduction. Mitchell's mother, Crystal Mitchell, has not heard from her son and has not received any demands. She pleaded with the public to, "Help me find my son."