Current:Home > InvestA Virginia woman delivering DoorDash was carjacked at gunpoint by an 11-year-old -Summit Capital Strategies
A Virginia woman delivering DoorDash was carjacked at gunpoint by an 11-year-old
View
Date:2025-04-16 06:15:21
A woman was delivering a DoorDash order in Virginia when she said she was carjacked at gunpoint by an 11-year-old and a young adult.
Deon Smith, 40, told Scripps News Richmond she was making a delivery to an apartment complex in South Richmond after midnight on Nov. 30 when she was approached by two people.
"When I was going inside I saw two kids outside," Smith told the outlet. "The little one approached me. I was thinking he was asking for money or something, but little did I know he was pointing a gun at me asking for my keys."
Scripps News reported that Smith tried to de-escalate the situation with the child that she later learned was 11 years old.
"When he told me that he was going to shoot me I was like, 'Are you serious? You want to kill somebody at your age,'" she said. "I was asking, ‘Where is your mom?’ and ‘Why are you out here this time of night?’"
She had kept her car running as made the delivery, and as she was in an exchange with the 11-year-old, the older suspect got in her driver's seat and called out for the child to get in.
In a statement released to USA Today a DoorDash spokesperson said: “Helping Dashers feel safe and supported is a top priority. This violent behavior has absolutely no place on our platform. We have reached out to the Dasher to offer our support and are in contact with local law enforcement to assist their investigation in any way we can.”
The statement went on to emphasis that DoorDash has a 24/7 Trust & Safety team available to assist dashers or community members in emergency situations.
Carjacking's on the rise:FBI agent carjacked at gunpoint in Washington D.C. amid city's rise in stolen vehicles
Police say suspects crashed and totaled car
Smith, whose full-time job is as a home health care nurse said the pair told her to also get in but she refused. Instead, she called the police, who an hour later told her that her car had been involved in an accident and had been totaled.
According to a GoFundMe site made on her behalf by family members of patients Smith has looked after as a homecare nurse, Smith had paid her car off just two months prior. The GoFundMe is raising money to help Smith get to work.
"Because she currently has no car, she is unable to get to her jobs, which makes it challenging to support herself and her 10-year-old daughter. All money raised from this will go directly to Deon so she can get to jobs, and support herself and her daughter," the page said.
The Richmond Police Department did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment but confirmed to Scripps News that two suspects, an 18-year-old and the 11-year-old were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the crash.
They were discharged from the hospital and arrested. They face robbery charges.
Smith told Scripps News that she was just grateful to have survived the harrowing incident.
"Just pray and ask God to protect at all costs, just to keep life, because a car can be replaced, but you cannot be," she said.
veryGood! (5859)
Related
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Giada De Laurentiis Reunites With Ex Todd Thompson to Support Daughter Jade
- Attention BookTok: Emily Henry's Funny Story Is Getting the Movie Treatment
- The Daily Money: Temp jobs in jeopardy
- Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
- Topical gel is latest in decades-long quest for hormonal male birth control
- The inspiring truth behind the movie 'Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot'
- Divers exploring ancient shipwreck where human remains were found off Greece discover second wreck, new treasures
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- These are the best and worst U.S. cities for new college grads
Ranking
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Teresa Giudice embraces 'photoshop' blunder with Larsa Pippen birthday tribute: 'Love it'
- The inspiring truth behind the movie 'Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot'
- The Daily Money: Temp jobs in jeopardy
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Tourists still flock to Death Valley amid searing US heat wave blamed for several deaths
- Livvy Dunne announces return to LSU gymnastics for fifth season: 'I'm not Dunne yet'
- No, sharks aren't out to get you. But here's why it may seem like it.
Recommendation
Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
USWNT roster for Paris Olympics: With Alex Morgan left out, who made the cut?
Limited-Edition Mopar 2024 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon makes its grand debut
Christina Hall Reveals Daughter Taylor's One Request for New Show With Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
Hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries, billions of dollars is cost of extreme heat in California
DB Wealth Institute, the Cradle of Financial Elites
Cillian Miller's Journey into Quantitative Trading