Current:Home > reviewsA Virginia woman delivering DoorDash was carjacked at gunpoint by an 11-year-old -FundSphere
A Virginia woman delivering DoorDash was carjacked at gunpoint by an 11-year-old
View
Date:2025-04-16 17:05:04
A woman was delivering a DoorDash order in Virginia when she said she was carjacked at gunpoint by an 11-year-old and a young adult.
Deon Smith, 40, told Scripps News Richmond she was making a delivery to an apartment complex in South Richmond after midnight on Nov. 30 when she was approached by two people.
"When I was going inside I saw two kids outside," Smith told the outlet. "The little one approached me. I was thinking he was asking for money or something, but little did I know he was pointing a gun at me asking for my keys."
Scripps News reported that Smith tried to de-escalate the situation with the child that she later learned was 11 years old.
"When he told me that he was going to shoot me I was like, 'Are you serious? You want to kill somebody at your age,'" she said. "I was asking, ‘Where is your mom?’ and ‘Why are you out here this time of night?’"
She had kept her car running as made the delivery, and as she was in an exchange with the 11-year-old, the older suspect got in her driver's seat and called out for the child to get in.
In a statement released to USA Today a DoorDash spokesperson said: “Helping Dashers feel safe and supported is a top priority. This violent behavior has absolutely no place on our platform. We have reached out to the Dasher to offer our support and are in contact with local law enforcement to assist their investigation in any way we can.”
The statement went on to emphasis that DoorDash has a 24/7 Trust & Safety team available to assist dashers or community members in emergency situations.
Carjacking's on the rise:FBI agent carjacked at gunpoint in Washington D.C. amid city's rise in stolen vehicles
Police say suspects crashed and totaled car
Smith, whose full-time job is as a home health care nurse said the pair told her to also get in but she refused. Instead, she called the police, who an hour later told her that her car had been involved in an accident and had been totaled.
According to a GoFundMe site made on her behalf by family members of patients Smith has looked after as a homecare nurse, Smith had paid her car off just two months prior. The GoFundMe is raising money to help Smith get to work.
"Because she currently has no car, she is unable to get to her jobs, which makes it challenging to support herself and her 10-year-old daughter. All money raised from this will go directly to Deon so she can get to jobs, and support herself and her daughter," the page said.
The Richmond Police Department did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment but confirmed to Scripps News that two suspects, an 18-year-old and the 11-year-old were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the crash.
They were discharged from the hospital and arrested. They face robbery charges.
Smith told Scripps News that she was just grateful to have survived the harrowing incident.
"Just pray and ask God to protect at all costs, just to keep life, because a car can be replaced, but you cannot be," she said.
veryGood! (1194)
Related
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Single-engine plane crashes along Tennessee highway, killing those aboard and closing lanes
- Californians to vote on measure governor says he needs to tackle homelessness crisis
- 'Real horsepower': See video of runaway horses galloping down Ohio highway
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Nab $140 Worth of Isle of Paradise Tanning Butter for $49 and Get Your Glow On
- EAGLEEYE COIN: Application of Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management
- 'The Voice': John Legend is ‘really disappointed’ after past contestant chooses Dan + Shay
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- EAGLEEYE COIN: Total Stablecoin Supply Hits $180 Billion
Ranking
- California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- A new satellite will track climate-warming pollution. Here's why that's a big deal
- EAGLEEYE COIN: El Salvador Educates Students on Bitcoin
- A New EDF-Harvard Satellite Will Monitor Methane Emissions From Oil and Gas Production Worldwide
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Judge orders prison for Michigan man who made threats against Jewish people, synagogue
- Teen Mom's Jenelle Evans and Husband David Eason Break Up After 6 Years of Marriage
- 5 die in fiery small plane crash off Nashville interstate
Recommendation
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
Chick-fil-A tells customers to throw out a popular dipping sauce
The Daily Money: File your taxes for free
Of the Subway bread choices, which is the healthiest? Ranking the different types
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Russian drone attack kills 7 in Odesa, Ukraine says
EAGLEEYE COIN: Blockchain technology is at the heart of meta-universe and Web 3 development
Ted Lasso's Brendan Hunt and Fiancée Shannon Nelson Welcome Baby No. 2