Brave Crossing Guard Hailed As A Hero After Answering Little Girl’s Plea “Please Don’t Let Her Take Me”

Dec 09, 2021

Nobody wants to think about their child being kidnapped, much less talk about child abductions with their kids themselves. This is because subconsciously, many of us have a fear of making it more likely to happen by talking about it. The harsh reality is that children make up 34% of all missing persons cases in the US, as reported by the FBI for 2020. That percentage comes out to 30,396 children or teenagers under the age of 18. Even then, the number seems small if compared against the population of the US and most people think it won't happen to them - but too often, it happens and leaves families devastated. 

However, there are always angels in disguise around us, and their quick thinking has saved many children in the past. One crossing guard was hailed as a hero when she helped to save a young girl from getting kidnapped in 2016. 

It is clear that school workers must also occasionally protect our children from those who would seek to do them harm as evidenced in the story of a school crossing guard from California. Adrian Young, the crossing, knew exactly what to do when an 8-year-old girl called out for help near Alexandria Avenue Elementary School. Thanks to the little girl's quick thinking and Young's immediate response, this situation was diffused from becoming a tragedy. 

Read on to know more about how Young's instinct on that day was a life-saver for the little girl. Moreover, this story shows that everyone can be a hero no matter what their profession is. 

Adrian Young was working as a crossing guard at Alexandria Avenue Elementary School in East Hollywood back in 2016, when she was forced into a violent encounter with a would-be kidnapper. Recalling her thoughts about the day, Young told NBC LA, "For some reason, I could not just leave that day," and added, "And I'm glad I didn't." 

Standing at just 4 feet 8 inches tall, Young might not have been physically imposing, but she nevertheless took on her duty well in ensuring that the kids of Alexandria Avenue Elementary get home safely very seriously.

On that fateful day in 2016, Young was going about her job when an 8-year-old little girl approached her and told her, “Please don’t let her take me. I don’t know her, she’s not my mom.”

Young immediately surged into action. "I kind of went into mother mode ... because I couldn't see myself letting this little girl be taken. I'm just grateful I was there," she said. "I just went into mother mode"

The plucky crossing guard got between the girl and her kidnapper, telling the young one to hold onto her as tight as possible. Young also held the little girl in a tight grip of her own. The kidnapper was not happy that Young had decided to intervene and began attacking her. Young fought back valiantly. 

After she was able to successfully fight off the child predator, with the little girl’s help, police were able to identify the kidnapper as Maria Ramirez. Ramirez was charged with attempted kidnapping in conjunction with the incident.

Later in the week after the incident, Young was honored by the Los Angeles Police Department for her heroism. A special plaque was presented to Young by Mitch O’Farrell, a member of the Los Angeles City Council.

"Sometimes superheroes come in small packages," O'Farrell said. "Adrian Young prevented a tragedy because of her diligence, training, awareness, and just because she cares so much about children, she prevented what could've been a kidnapping of a child." O’Farrell also praised Young for her good deed, saying that she went above and beyond in her response to the situation.

"I'm very grateful for all the accolades, but I just did what I felt was right," Young, who is a mother herself, told NBC LA. "I felt that if it was my child, I would want someone to protect her. I couldn't see myself let that little girl be taken"

While grateful for Young’s quick thinking, Sharon Arellano, the 8-year-old girl’s mother, says that she feels that more needs to be done to protect the children of Alexandria Avenue Elementary School.  

Another person, Colleen Riley, said, "I think the inner city is overlooked for heroism. I think people think there's a lot of crime here. I think the angels throughout carry us, and (Young is) definitely an angel."

In the end, Young’s actions are proof positive of the guardianship that school employees have for the children in their care. Young protected the little girl like she was her own child, saving her from a kidnapper and helping police bring a criminal to justice.

What do you think of Adrian Young’s story? What would you have done if you were in a similar situation? Let us know, and be sure to pass this story on to your friends and family as well.