Woman fought off kidnapper with shotgun in North Hollywood

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A North Hollywood woman who was almost kidnapped at gunpoint grabbed the man's shotgun and managed to scare him off by screaming.

Now police have released a sketch of the suspect and are hoping the public can help find him.

The woman recalled the terrifying ordeal in an interview with Eyewitness News.

On Aug. 11 around 10:30 p.m. the woman was driving home when the suspect began following her in his own car to the 7700 block of Ethel Avenue, police said. She pulled into her driveway and he got out of his car.

"While the gate was closing, someone came in with a shotgun," the woman recalled. "I didn't notice him until he had the shotgun to my head while I was siting in my car."

At first she didn't try to struggle because of the shotgun. He hit her over the head and in the face with the gun and ordered her to get into his car.

"I knew if I got in his car, it was over," she said.

At that point she was ready to fight back.

"I noticed both his hands were busy. One on my hair and the other one had the firearm. That's when I pulled his gun."

They struggled with the weapon and she began screaming louder and louder for help.

Finally he wrestled the gun back, but took off, hopping into his own car and driving away.

The experience left her terrified and she is hopeful that a sketch released by the Los Angeles Police Department will help catch the suspect.

"I walk around afraid now," she said. "I wouldn't wish that on anybody else."

The suspect was described as a male Hispanic about five-feet four inches to five-feet five inches tall, weighing around 175-180 pounds, around 23-26 years old with a light goatee. He was wearing a zip-up sweater and gray "Dickies" style pants. He was driving an older four-door brown or tan car.

Police asked anyone with information to call detectives at (818)754-8451 or after hours at 877-LAPD-247. Anonymous tips can be reported to 800-222-TIPS or online at lapdonline.org.