Police said the suspect grabbed the girl by the arm and tried to pull her into his van. The girl pulled away and during the struggle the suspect's gun fell to the ground.
The girl was able to escape while the man was picking up his gun. The suspect then fled the scene.
The suspect's vehicle was described as a 1990s era full-sized black van. There was a passenger in the van described only as a male wearing a white T-shirt.
Anyone with information on the case was asked to call El Monte police at (626) 580-2100.
