Texas boy, 11, honored for stopping kidnapping

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KABC) -- An 11-year-old and his parents were honored for preventing a kidnapping in Wichita Falls, Texas.

When T.J. Smith spotted a stranger grab a little girl, he ran for his parents.

They headed out to see what they could do and spotted the male suspect attempting to push the girl into an abandoned home. The parents tackled and held him until police arrived.

This week, Wichita Falls Police Chief Manuel Borrego and Mayor Glenn Barham paid tribute to the family.

"He told me I was brave and that I was a hero," Smith said.

His mother shared her pride.

"We were hoping that we raised him right and this right here just proved it."

The family received certifications of appreciation from the city.

"What this little boy did was just amazing," Borrego said. "I'm sure he was scared and afraid of what was going on, but he still persevered."

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