A 16-year-old girl is speaking out after bravely fighting off an attempted abduction in broad daylight, leading to the arrest of her attacker.
The suspect, 32-year-old Brian Gamboa, appeared in Miami-Dade Circuit Court on Thursday, facing charges of attempted kidnapping and battery of a child.
The teen, identified only as Valerie, recounted the terrifying incident in an interview with 7News, describing how she resisted and ultimately escaped from her attacker’s grip.
“He just screamed, ‘Shush,’ and he went for my arm,” Valerie told 7 News Miami, still too shaken to show her face on camera.
As Gamboa attempted to drag her into his vehicle, Valerie fought back with all her strength.
“I punched him in the face. I kicked him in the lower body, a lot,” she explained.
The attack occurred while she was walking along Southwest 86th Street and talking to friends on the phone. She noticed a car pulling up next to her and saw a visibly intoxicated man stepping out.
“He stopped and came out of the car, and he was drunk. Really wobbly,” she recalled.
Valerie said Gamboa shoved her to the ground in an attempt to restrain her. Despite her fear, she instinctively defended herself.
“I pushed him off with this leg, so I can’t bend this knee right now, and then I started hitting him with my phone, which is broken,” she said. “I got up as quickly as I could. When I got free, I kicked him, and I got up and ran to a neighbor.”
She immediately called South Miami Police, who responded swiftly. A “be on the lookout” alert was issued for Gamboa, and he was arrested by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office just over a quarter-mile away.
While reflecting on the harrowing experience, Valerie expressed gratitude for her survival.
“It was really scary. I’m OK, except the fact that my knee is messed up. Like, I’m OK. I got pretty lucky; like, it could have been way worse for me,” she said. “I didn’t want to have a story like that. I didn’t want to have his impact on my life like that, so I was just fighting.”
Gamboa appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer on Thursday, where his charges were formally read.
“Good afternoon, sir. You were arrested for battery on a child,” Judge Glazer stated during the hearing.
Though Gamboa has posted bond, he will remain in custody until fitted with an ankle monitor. Authorities have not disclosed additional details regarding further legal proceedings.
Valerie’s courage and quick thinking played a crucial role in preventing what could have been a tragic outcome. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of self-defense awareness and community vigilance in preventing such incidents.
