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Subscribe to RSS7-year-old A-nari Taylor was given an award by the Miami Police Department for saving her 4-year-old cousin from a kidnapper. WTVJ's Betty Yu reports.
A 7-year-old girl who fought off a man at least twice her size was honored by Miami police Tuesday for being one of the city's youngest crime fighters.
On July 27, A-nari Taylor was playing with her cousin, Brandon Mincey, 4, and other kids outside Mincey's apartment when a man walked up to Brandon, screaming, “God told me to take him, God told me he’s coming with me,” according to police.
The would-be abductor, identified as 39-year-old David Moore, then allegedly grasped Brandons arm, but A-nari sprang into action, punching and kicking him.
Taylor said she was frightened by the man, but she kept struggling with him to try to free her cousin.
"The man started pulling him, and we start pulling him back and I had to chop and kick him so he could let Brandon go," A-nari said after Tuesday's ceremony, in which she received a standing ovation. "'Cause my mama always said safety is first."
Read about A-nari Taylor's award on NBCMiami.com
Original story on NBCMiami.com: Would-be abductor said God told him to take boy
An adult in the apartment complex also rushed over to help.
"The little boy looked so scared," Tiffany Morris told NBCMiami.com. "A-nari came over and started beating the man up, and she was like, 'Let my cousin go, let my cousin go.'"
Moore eventually let go of Brandon, Morris said. Police later arrested him in the neighborhood.
"With the information that [A-nari] provided the officers, we were able to apprehend the defendant," Miami Police Commander Anita Najiy said. "He was charged with attempted kidnapping and false imprisonment."
A-nari's mom, Tanya Dingle, said A-nari has always been interested in martial arts.
"I'm very, very proud of her, and she knows that I love her. What she did was very brave," Dingle said. "She always said she wanted to get into karate, so this is the beginning."
Besides an award, officers at Tuesday's ceremony surprised Taylor with a SpongeBob SquarePants jacket.
Taylor said she still plays outside but always in a big group and with her mom watching close by.
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What a little trooper and Hero fighting to get her cousin free. A little Hero for sure.
Bravo to you, little one, and to your mom, too. Safety first, indeed! I'm going to make a call right now, to see if I can contribute to your karate lessons. You are an inspiration and a hero of the first order.
no follow up on the perp; bet all you have, he has a record of violence involving children!
You are a hero baby girl and MAY GOD SEND YOU MANY BLESSINGS IN YOUR LIFE and I wish I had the money to send you and your family on a beautiful vacation.
As the saying goes, 'dynamite comes in small packages', and she proved it; kudoes to A-nari for being smart enough, and brave enough to attack her cousin's would-be abductor.
Yes way to go for this little girl and those who helped her. Also glad to see she listened to her mother and that her mother took the time to teach her about strangers and what to do. Her mother should be very proud indeed. That knowledge kept her and her cousin safe. Yes could've always gone the other way but better to know and put up a fight than to give in and have who knows what happen to that little boy.
I agree Saxon, wouldn't surprise me at all.
If that is the case, that POS deserves a lead shot to just get rid of him once and for all and save us all the hassle and cost of lock up but since he will likely go to lock up at least we can all hope that the local population will do some "kidnapping" of their own and let this scumbag know where he really ranks.
Again great job to this little girl and a hats off to the local PD for catching this vermin and for taking the time to honor this little girl. Hope that this inspires others. Best of luck to this little girl and her future.
It is time
Something tells me that if the attacker was white NBC would have been all over it. The lack of perp info is very telling. The little girl did a good job in this case, however; in most cases she could have wound up dead as these perps are nuts, and they obviously don't care about their victims, or themselves as far as that goes.
A-nari you are my new hero and so is your mommy! This just goes to show that children listen to the good things that we take the time to teach them. Chances are, A-nari and Brandon will have a bond forever. Maybe he will also watch over her as the years go by...
On a more funny side of this story: Can you see the warm reception this guy will get when he is sent to prison and tells his fellow inmates how he was beat up by a 7 year old! He will no doubt be the cell block hero!
Are any of the folks related? All have different names...who's your Daddy? The girl deserves credit, but what about Momma being charged with neglect for not supervising the child in the first place?
My, my da stuff what goes on in South Florida!
Why is there always one who feels the need to bring race into the comments? Get over it! This is a great story with a very happy ending. Why can't some just celebrate that a child is still with us and a little girl with a bountiful amount of courage made that happen, and the bad guy is in custody?
My kids have a different last name from mine because I chose to keep my name and give them their dad's name. My cousin has a different last name from mine and therefore my kid's because his mother chose to give him his father's name.
And yes, i'm married as is my aunt. So enough with the nonsense.
I would hope a local karate dojo would love to sponsor this young lady's karate education... it would be an amazing way to thank and commend her bravery.
Wburnes...WTH does that have to do with the story??!! Obviously, her mother did a great job raising her... Isn't that what matters??!
Isn't A-nari Japanese for a river? My Japanese is rusty. This girl sure sure overwhelmed this assailant like a flood! Good work!
She's a very brave little girl and a real hero. Bless her heart!
7.62x39mm...Does the race of the perp matter? He was caught and the kids are safe...THAT'S what matters. Pull your head out!
What an amazing little girl! We've always tried to teach our daughter the same thing in such an instance: kick, hit, scratch, scream, bite, whatever you have to do to break free. You never know if it will happen to your children or if they will be able to defend themselves, but our daughter demonstrated she was listening once when a boy tried to force a kiss on her when she was 7, and she punched him in the nose and knocked him down. Granted he wasn't yet an adult and wasn't trying to kidnap anyone, but it still showed that she knew what we meant!
Outstanding, A-nari! You're a true hero, and I hope life will bring all good things to you, as you've already contributed so much good already at this tender age.
As for the perp, wishing him lots and lots of fun and hi-jinx in prison; I am sure he'll be very popular with the general population.
Wonderful story with a beautiful ending.
Stay safe everybody..
"Crimes against Children":
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/vc_majorthefts/cac
wburnes, I've known a few people who have given their children a different last name because they hated theirs intensely and wouldn't saddle a child with it. One was named "hyman", like the female virginal reference, the other was "hussy". The kids names had nothing to do with the moms marital status, but with the mom trying to make life easier on the child.
Buzzlightyear2! Don't forget HORSEPLAY with all the HI-JINX! hahahahahaha Brave little girl!
Lock him up FOREVER and not look fpor the KEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wburnes - ridiculous - this is a story about a brave little girl and you try and taint it with your assumptions. If I ever get married and have children (I would like to some day), I plan on giving the children their father's last name. Since I will get to carry them and know them better before they are born it seems fair to let the father and child have a special connection in another way. Changing your own last name when married is fine for many but not right for an increasing number so we will have different last names and that is fine by me.
GREAT STORY! I hope she gets her martial arts training...maybe even for free by endorsing some local studio.
Kevin C, good idea! Enjoying your posts these days.
And maybe a little better education. Let me cousin go let me cousin go. I'm not trying to take anything away from this little girls heroics but give me a break thats the speech of a 3 year old.
Let's hope she does...she deserves it!
Sorry they changed it after my post.
He is 3 years old, do you expect him to be reciting Shakespeare? Your handle Panhead suits you well Sir, if all you got out of this story is how a little child speaks you are very, very, sad.
The guy who did this should live out the rest of his crazy days in a mental institution.
I wish the guy that did this gets his balls cut off and then executed. Crimes against children are not tolerated...
With all the negative news going on, what a wonderful inspiring story. Who ever said children should be seen and not heard must be cheering in their grave! I predict a future karate champion.She already has the heart of a warrior:)
No, not a mental institution. It costs too much to keep this kind of trash... Someone like him ... with a record of violence especially with children was deemed some time ago to have the mental capacity of understanding right and wrong. Repeat offenders should be incarcerated with a death penalty on the table. God was with this little one and that's the bottom line. We have the right to defend ourselves at all times but if these innocents are overwhelmed, raped and even murdered... it's too late to deal with them... With laws against drinking 16 oz. sodas... where are the tougher laws and penalties for predators?
So all the children that were abducted, raped, tortured and killed were somehow beneath God's protection? Please be careful how you frame such statements.
To...........There is a light that never goes out...................
I could not agree more with you! There is a book, " God, Where Were you?" on Nazi Germany and the holocaust.
To say that God protects some while denying others is an insult.
Best story I've read all day!!
Ditto that Markhouf!
So glad this one ended happily. I love this - a parent taught her kid to beware of strangers and the kid actually listened!
I agree. I remember telling my kids when they were little to fight back if anyone tried to take them. I told them that if that ever happened, there were no rules. They could scream, kick, cuss, pull hair, punch, scratch - whatever it took to get away! I still remember the looks on their faces as they imagined treating an adult that way. It was amazing to them that they were getting permission to be completely disrespectful to an adult. But knowing that's what appropriate in that situation, is what would save them. Kids think they're supposed to do what adults tell them to do. They have to understand that in some cases, they have to do whatever it takes to survive.
This story brings tears to my eyes. I'm so happy this little girl listened to her mom, and it paid off big time. Good for her! Good for the mom!
Way to go baby girl, way to go!!!!
Thank God , Momma taught her right and she listened. She saved a life.
Please don't thank God on this, The mother deserves all the credit here that she was intellegent enoght to see this.
How about you let people thank whomever they wish!
YOU TELL IT AMY !!! Thank God and the mom :)
STEVE llOl648 is right, it is from God that all blessings flow. Praise His holy name!
Thank God.
Thank God is right...this could have ended in a very bad way for both of them. Great job, A-nari...you are a very brave little girl.
How can you thank god? Wasnt god the one who told the guy to kidnap the boy in the first place?
@ Mike No he wasn't the guy blamed God. Probably thinking the kid would go without a fight!
I'm with you Steve - thank God and A-nari's Mom! Such a brave little kid!
I agree with Mike and that's exactly what I was going to say. Read the article. The man said that god told him to abduct that little boy. I don't know why any of you are thanking "god" for anything. If anyone should be praised it should be that little girl and her mother, and them alone. Don't give credit to your god where it isn't due.
Also, why do some of you people have to bring "god" into EVERYTHING. Somehow many other people managed to praise this little girl and her mother without uttering the word god. Maybe you should take a lesson from that. Like I said, we need to learn to give credit where it is really due. It's a shame that some of the credit is taken away from where it should be given to accommodate "god."
Jaime, there's nothing wrong with thanking God and being thankful for the protection. It's trash like you who bring your "God doesn't exist" agenda into every positive post. It's not a "religious topic" until people like you make it one.
I would like to know why non-believers seem to always make comments when someone refers to God. Why can't y'all just let it be? Why do you feel the need to stick yer foot in the spokes and gum up the works?
Live and let live.
This little girl did a wonderful thing. If I want to thank God, I can, and that's not an invitation for you to open yer pie whole!
"It's not a "religious topic" until people like you make it one."
More often than not, it does seem religious arguments on this site seem to happen from someone being intentionally offensive towards religion.... which kind of goes against the whole argument of tolerance, religious OR NOT. If God doesn't exist there's no reason to hate him so much. If you BELIEVE there is a God, don't blame others for their BELIEFS. If you KNOW there is or is not a god, your welcome to explain HOW you came about this knowledge and enlighten the rest of mankind... rather than just follow a protocol that doesn't even coincide with the universe in the least. It's important for everyone to distinguish between what one claims to believe, and what one claims to "know." If math is truly a logical extension of what we cannot physically perceive, then I got bad news (for everyone, but especially atheists). What's the most mathematically complete scientific theory? String theory (and its variants). What does string theory suggest? That there are an infinite number of universes. What does this suggest? Were not sure, but it could very well mean somewhere, in some universe or another, everything we have done or even IMAGINED exists somewhere. Yes. As far as we KNOW fairies are inevitable. So is this what some scientists "know?" Or is this what some scientists "believe?" Oh, but SOMEHOW atheists "KNOW" that, according to them, something as specific as God does not exist. Sorry atheists but this is what's called a logical fallacy. Agnostics are the only ones being completely logical because they do not make an assumption. I, however, chose to BELIEVE in God. If you truly KNOW there is no god, your welcome to explain HOW it's impossible. Here's the bottom line: If you don't know how a god is impossible, logically, you don't even know it doesn't exist. I don't claim to know God does exist, but I do believe.
basschnagel,
this little girl does an amazingly brave thing and that gives YOU an invitation to open YOUR pie hole??.... right, gotcha. I would like to thank you for showing us that hypocrisy is alive and well today.
I think Buddha had a hand in it as well, as long as we're lining up people for credit.
What a remarkable family. It is obvious, through her mothers words, that A-nari is truly loved and treasured in her family. Such an important value for children to hold. She is lived and protected so she lives the value of loving and protecting others. Fantastic, lovely family.
txmom, best post on this thread!
Good for her!
Nice
what a brave and wonderful girl! this story would NOT have a happy ending without her! WAY TO GO BABE!!!!!!!!
An absolutely marvelous story. The little one is a jewel and inspiration. Thank you, Mom, for teaching this child. Please give her a hug for me.
Good for her!!!...Hope she gets that martial arts training she wants...thanks for posting this story...stay brave!!!
Way to go! What a brave girl, not only trying to save your cousin but standing up to a grown man twice your size. You saved you cousin from could have been so ugly. God bless you and you mom for teaching to fight for what's right! Keep doing that, you have a vey bright future!
Can't say it enough great job!
That's why I am in favor of the death penilty.
Oxman - much as it pains me, I must agree. I am NOT in favor of the death penalty at all, but as long as we do have it in this world, these creeps are the first ones need to sit down on that lO,OOO volt heating pad.
That sweet innocent young girl could have been killed. How many lives does it take in order to forefeit your own? Keep some pervert alive for the rest of their life and the innocent party still remains dead! Capital punishment doesn't bring the innocent back to life....but it keeps the guilty party good and dead never to repeat again.
Hey! Spike Lee!
This little girl shows the true definition of, "Do The Right Thing'.
Way to go A-Nari! You are truly a smart, brave little girl! Finally, a story with a happy ending. We could very well have been reading another tragic story in the paper!
Good luck with your martial arts! Bravo to your mother for teaching you well!
anari is an inspiration no one has to just standby and let these kind of people hurt them or others . i hope this inspires others to take action if they see something happening . just because someone is bigger does not mean that you cant try to stop them. way to go anari may gods light continue to shine on you and your family .
Everybody should understand self-defense fundamentals despite age. Better would be to achieve higher levels of expertise in street self defense or combat martial arts. The result? A more peaceful society, not perfect by any means, but better. Just an opinion.
I'm so glad this story has a happy ending!!!! God bless you little A-nari!
@ Jay - I DO thank God for the outcome of this - Through Him all mercies flow. It is wonderful to read such stories and I congraduate this young girl for doing what is right - and her parents for teaching her such.
Good also to hear that the children will now be supervised while playing outside. I don't want to put a damper on this story, but shouldn't that have been done in the first place?
GOD BLESS THE CHILD WHO'S GOT HER OWN! Yes ma'am!
What a refreshing change to read something in the news that doesn't make me either furious or cry. I am elated! I certainly hope we see some follow up to this story in the future; I think we'd all like to see little Miss Taylor's ceremony when she eventually earns her Black Belt.
And Miss Taylor, you are one brave and righteous little lady. Your action was an inspiration to both children and parents all over the world. We do not have to cower in fear of the sick monsters that trod this earth... I have four children, ranging in age from ll to 3O. I just don't know the words to tell you the overwhelming joy your mother and Brandon's mother are feeling today, as well as Ms. Morris who selflessly rushed to your aid. God bless you, little one.
No child should ever have to do this-not here, not in our county--not ever.
No child anywhere--ever--
If we lived in a perfect world you would be correct, and obama would be a good president, but we don't, and he isn't sooooooooo.
What does this story have to do with the President?
eric - you get the Dork award for dragging in the politics where there no place for it. I was really enjoying the story and postings until I got to yours. Take a break, willya?
Eric, it's not very often I put someone on my ignore list based on a single comment from that person. Well, that's where you belong. Please feel free to reciprocate.
And she didn't even need a GUN. Amazing!
But if see did, if it was up to you, she would'nt have had one, correct? If that's the case, and she ended up dead, is it safe to assume we would'nt hear a word out of you?
What the heck are you trying to say? Your improper use of apostrophes and misspelled words make your comment uncomprehendable.
Michelle.....F#ck You!
Eric. Are you not the one complaining about the 7 year old's grammar? Why are you upset at Michelle for pointing out your hypocrisy? Just learn proper grammar and move on.
Eric,
Grammar is important! Capitalization is the difference between helping your Uncle Jack off a horse and helping your Uncle jack off a horse.
Eric-1017922, don't do this. Take your own advice. Don't make it personal.
You're suspended for a day for violating #1 of the Code of Honor.