Hitchhiker startles men, hijacks vehicle
Two local men got more than they bargained for when they picked up a man walking on the road this week and ended up having their vehicle hijacked.
The victims told police they were traveling down South Chancery Street when they stopped to pick up a man who they, at first, thought was a friend. However, the man, who accepted the ride, quickly jumped into the car and it became apparent to the victims they did not know their new passenger.
The man, described as a bald-headed man of medium build, reportedly began calling the shots when he entered the vehicle, demanding they take him to a location on East Green Hill Road. The men said they believed the passenger had a gun concealed beneath his clothing and complied with his demands.
During the long trip to East Green Hill, the man explained he was planning to kill a woman once he arrived in Green Hill. He volunteered only that he was from California and that he planned to shoot the woman, giving no other clues to his identity.
The man then reportedly ordered his hosts to let him out of the car when they reached a crossroads near his destination, disappearing as quickly as he had appeared.
According to police, there are no suspects in the case and there were no reports of gunfire in the Green Hill area in or around the time of the incident. City investigators are following up on the unusual report.
Should someone ever be nabbed for the incident, they could face aggravated kidnapping charges which carry 15 to 25 years in prison since the men were commandeered by an armed threat to their safety.