Current:Home > FinanceA Virginia woman delivering DoorDash was carjacked at gunpoint by an 11-year-old -Core Financial Strategies
A Virginia woman delivering DoorDash was carjacked at gunpoint by an 11-year-old
View
Date:2025-04-13 23:01:56
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! (679)
Related
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Taylor Swift could pick our next president. Are Americans and Swifties 'Ready For It?'
- Syphilis among newborns continues to rise. Pregnant moms need treatment, CDC says
- Peace Corps agrees to pay $750,000 to family of dead volunteer
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Barbra Streisand regrets rejecting Brando, reveals Elvis was nearly cast in 'A Star is Born'
- 4 charged in theft of 18-karat gold toilet
- Spanish author Luis Mateo Díez wins Cervantes Prize, the Spanish-speaking world’s top literary honor
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Lauryn Hill defends concert tardiness during LA show: 'Y'all lucky I make it...on this stage'
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Pakistani premier tries to reassure Afghans waiting for visas to US that they won’t be deported
- India bars protests that support the Palestinians. Analysts say a pro-Israel shift helps at home
- Veteran quarterback Carson Wentz is signing with the Los Angeles Rams, AP source says
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Nacho average bear: Florida mammal swipes $45 Taco Bell order from porch after Uber Eats delivery
- Hospitals in Israel move underground to keep working amid rockets from Lebanon
- Not your average porch pirate: Watch the moment a bear steals a family's Uber Eats order
Recommendation
Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
Ohio State holds off Georgia for top spot in College Football Playoff rankings
Pregnant Teen Mom Star Kailyn Lowry Teases Sex of Twins
Robbers break into home of Brazilian soccer star Neymar’s partner, she said on social media
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Migration experts say Italy’s deal to have Albania house asylum-seekers violates international law
A top aide to the commander of Ukraine’s military is killed by a grenade given as a birthday gift
Hootie & the Blowfish announces 1st tour since 2019: See all the 2024 dates