A suspect has been identified in a Southern Dallas kidnapping that triggered an AMBER Alert Sunday afternoon, police say.
Dallas Police said they are looking for 41-year-old Lamar Neal in connection with the abduction of two children.
Investigators said Monday they needed help identifying a man who picked up two children, ages 7 and 9, as they walked near their apartment in Southern Dallas at about 12:15 p.m. Sunday.
"They were approached by a Black male suspect in what's being described as a gray crossover vehicle, stopped and offered the children a ride and the children got in the car. They went to a local store where the 9-year-old got out, went to the door, turned back around once realized the store was closed and the suspect drove off with the girl inside the car," said Kristin Lowman, a spokesperson for the Dallas Police Department.
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Police were called at about 12:30 p.m. An AMBER Alert was issued at about 6:45 p.m., more than six hours after the child was taken.
The missing 7-year-old girl was later found walking alone in her apartment complex at about 12:40 a.m. Police said no vehicle was seen dropping the child off near where she was found.
Tuesday night, a close family friend told NBC 5 that they believed the best thing that could happen right now is for the suspect to be captured or surrendered to police.
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A family friend who wanted to be identified as Mrs. Brown was designated by a relative to speak with NBC 5 about the child and the family's long road to healing after the incident.
“She's going to need support,” Brown said. “She's going to need the support system. She's going to need the love and protection.”
Brown has been close to the family for the past 40 years. She said news of the abduction this weekend rocked the community.
“Our hearts were very heavy. And we were just praying throughout the entire time that she was returned safe,” she said.
She said the work has just begun to address the trauma inflicted.
“Everyone is hurting. But just only imagine how that child is hurting,” Brown said. “Every moment, every hour, every second, her mind is going to reflect on something within those twelve hours that she had gone through.”
Brown said it is important to heed AMBER Alerts. She knows this now more than ever.
“Everyone that has the AMBER Alert taken off their phone, please put it on there, put it back on there,” Brown said.
Police said Neal is wanted in connection with three charges of aggravated kidnapping, kidnapping, and aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Anyone with information on Neal's location is asked to call 911. The FBI and Secret Service have been assisting the Dallas Police Department in the investigation.
