A Florida teen fought for her life after a person allegedly tried to abduct her. Now, she’s telling her story.
The 16-year-old lady, recognized as Valerie by native outlet WSVN, was strolling in her neighborhood in South Miami within the morning of Thursday, Feb. 20, when Brian Gamboa allegedly tried to assault and kidnap her, police advised CBS News Miami.
Gamboa, 32, a New York native residing in South Miami, tried to pull and power Valerie into his automotive, she recalled to WSVN. “He stopped and got here out of the automotive, and he was drunk. Actually wobbly,” she advised the Fox affiliate. “He simply screamed, ‘Shush,’ and he went for my arm.”
Gamboa, who’s 6 ft tall in line with police information considered by PEOPLE, then “began attacking me,” Valerie advised CBS News Miami.
She added that he “grabbed me by my shoulders” and “began hitting me behind my head,” earlier than she detailed how she “fought again.”
“I threw my telephone at him,” Valerie advised CBS Information Miami. “I began kicking him, I began screaming and stuff. After which I began punching him.”
The assault escalated rapidly, nonetheless, when Gamboa allegedly pushed Valerie onto the bottom, and he or she “dragged him down with me,” she recalled to the outlet. “Then I kicked him within the crotch [and] within the head after which I ran off.”
As Valerie ran for assist, screaming at a neighbor’s door, Gamboa fled the scene, CBS Information Miami reported.
CBS Miami/YouTube
Gamboa was later concerned in a hit-and-run crash in a close-by restaurant car parking zone, in line with police, after which he was taken into custody by Miami-Dade Sheriff’s officers, WSVN reported. That’s when Valerie was capable of determine him as her attacker, per CBS Information Miami.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Workplace didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s request for touch upon Feb. 22.
Gamboa appeared to maintain accidents within the altercation and following crash, as seen cuts may be seen on his brow in his mugshot. The Miami teen, in the meantime, escaped with only a knee damage, which she confirmed on digital camera whereas talking with WSVN.
“I pushed him off with this leg,” she advised the outlet, “so I can’t bend this knee proper now.”
Miami-Dade Corrections
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Past her bodily reminders of the assault, nonetheless, Valerie stated she is struggling to maneuver on from the scary altercation.
“It was actually scary. I’m okay, besides the truth that my knee is tousled,” she advised WSVN. “I obtained fairly fortunate, like, it may have been manner worse for me. I didn’t wish to have a narrative like that. I didn’t wish to have his influence on my life like that, so I used to be simply preventing.”
The teenager is now “attempting to recover from it,” she advised CBS Information Miami.
“Hopefully, he goes to jail for a really very long time. I do not suppose this man ought to ever be on the road once more,” she added to the outlet, earlier than sharing the message she desires others to remove from the scenario.
“At all times combat again,” Valerie urged, “irrespective of how scary the scenario is, and at all times scream for assist.”
Gamboa was charged with tried kidnapping and battery of a kid and was positioned beneath home arrest, in line with arrest information considered by PEOPLE.
He posted his $30,000 bond on Feb. 20, however is not going to be launched from custody till he’s fitted with an ankle monitor.
