Armed woman tries to snatch baby in stroller

Two people are in custody Sunday for allegedly attempting to snatch a baby at gunpoint from two women in Long Beach, authorities said.

The women were walking the baby in a stroller in the area of Pine Avenue and 10th Street around noon Saturday when they were approached by an unknown, armed female suspect, the Long Beach Police Department reported.

“The suspect pointed the firearm at one of the adult victims and demanded the baby,” police said. “A struggle for the stroller ensued between the suspect and two women, which ended when a vehicle driven by a second suspect, a man, pulled up near the scene and discharged a perceived firearm in the direction of the victims.”

The female suspect released the stroller and ran to the awaiting vehicle, which fled westbound on 10th Street before officers arrived.

Within a few hours of the crime, detectives gathered enough evidence to identify and locate the suspects, the LBPD said. Detectives located a vehicle matching the suspects’ vehicle at about 8:45 p.m. Saturday in the 400 block of South Occidental Avenue in Los Angeles.

They approached the vehicle and allegedly found both suspects and two airsoft replica firearms inside. The suspects were taken into custody without incident and were transported to Long Beach city jail for booking.

Los Angeles residents Stacie Earnestine Wilson, 55, and Walter Keshone Sullivan, 45, were arrested on suspicion of felony kidnapping and felony assault with a deadly weapon. Each had a bail set at $100,000.

The motive for the alleged crime remains under investigation.

The LBPD’s Gang Detail urged anyone with information regarding the attempted kidnapping to call them at 562-570-7370 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.