JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Lucky is how family members of 7-year-old Bryan Williamson say they are feeling, days after the boy was found in Jacksonville after a man kidnapped him outside his home in Madison.
On Thursday, authorities released surveillance video Action News Jax first showed you exclusively on Monday.
They have very little information about the suspect. They say the suspect is a dark-skinned man, either black or Hispanic and was driving a dark-colored, four-door car, possibly a Chevy.
Still in disbelief, Shawn Schreiber, Bryan Williamson’s older cousin, stood in front of reporters Thursday afternoon, on behalf of his family.
“I’m pretty emotional, I’m pretty shocked up,” said Schreiber.
Police say a man kidnapped 7-year-old Bryan Williamson near his Madison home after he left to go buy some candy from the store.
“We just felt helpless, just sitting in one spot. There’s no telling where he could have went,” said Schreiber.
“This suspect is still out there. He is a child abductor and if he did this once, we’re fearful that he may do it again,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Perez with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
It’s a harsh dose of reality, that’s why law enforcement, both local and federal are trying to find the suspect.
“We are all working very aggressively and as quickly as possible to identify and apprehend the suspect responsible for Bryan’s abduction,” said Perez.
Police are offering a $50,000 reward for the capture of the suspect and also releasing this surveillance video. Perez said it’s their biggest piece of information and they want to get the video out to the public. The images are enhanced, but it’s the same video of the suspect’s car we first showed you exclusively.
Police say they believe both the suspect and Bryan Williamson were inside the car in Jacksonville. Bryan was found safe after he knocked on the door of a home on Jacksonville’s Westside.
“We have received tips that range from across North Florida to South Georgia, over the past 72 hours,” said Special Agent in Charge Michelle Klimt with the FBI Jacksonville division.
“It happened right here. He got snatched up, like right up in this area right here,” said Ernest Turner.
Turner lives right next door to Bryan’s home and spoke to his father, minutes after hearing the news.
“He was hysterical, he was crying, he was shaken up real bad,” said Turner.
Turner said he still can’t believe this happened just outside his door, especially with his nieces and nephews nearby.
“There were multiple kids outside playing that day, I don’t know how they managed to pull that off, like that, but they did it,” said Turner.
Police are looking for any cars that received a paint job recently, or people trying to sell cars in a hurry.
A $50,000 reward is being offered for the capture of the abductor. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or 1-800-225-5324.
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