Arlington police released surveillance video Friday of an attempted kidnapping at a gas pump last week.
In the video, recorded June 2 at a gas station near Pioneer Parkway and Texas Highway 360, a man is seen filling up his rental car when a second vehicle pulls up behind him and two men wearing masks jump out. The victim runs toward the store, but a gunman gives chase and grabs him before he reaches the door, pulling him back into the parking lot.
Meanwhile, the second masked man rifles through the victim's car.
The two perpetrators soon get back into their car and drive away.
Police believe the victim was targeted because he might have been carrying cash or valuables. They say the incident was not random, and that the perpetrators were likely following the man to the gas station with the intention of robbing him.
Arlington Police Lt. Christopher Cook said a gas station employee is seen on the surveillance video holding the front door closed, thinking the store was about to be robbed. The employee was simultaneously dialing 911 and immediately opened the door to allow the victim inside as soon as the gunman ran back to his car
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Cook said the business owner's children were inside the store and he didn't want the gunman to come inside with his kids there.
Officers released the video because it was so similar in nature to the attack Thursday near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport that left a man dead. Arlington police will not say the two cases are connected at this point, but they are looking at that as a possibility.
The man in the Arlington attack was able to escape, and nothing of value was stolen before the perpetrators sped away, police said.
Arlington police have been in contact with the FBI regarding the attack last week, and there have not been any arrests in either incident.
Anyone with information that could help Arlington police is asked to call Detective Jeremy Houchin at 817-459-5301. Anonymous calls may be placed to Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS.
