Shocking surveillance footage has revealed the nerve-wracking moment an elderly Florida woman narrowly escaped being kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend at gunpoint outside a church. Jose Tsu Zamora, 64, has been arrested following the attempted abduction in Port St Lucie, a city on the east coast approximately 50 miles north of Palm Beach.
Incident Details
Local police released footage of the incident, which investigators say shows Zamora attempting to kidnap his 74-year-old ex-girlfriend, whose identity has not been disclosed. According to Port St Lucie Police Chief Leo Niemzyck, Zamora approached the victim to initiate a conversation before trying to force her into his car while brandishing a firearm. However, several bystanders at the scene outside the First United Methodist Church intervened to assist the woman.
'The courage that they displayed helped disarm a very dangerous, escalating situation,' Niemzyck stated. The surveillance footage depicts Zamora firmly guiding the victim by her shoulders toward his vehicle, with police confirming he was holding a gun. At one point, the victim fell to the ground beside a tree, prompting three individuals to rush over and engage Zamora in conversation.
Flight and Arrest
Following the intervention, Zamora fled to Hialeah in Miami County. Investigators tracked him down using license plate readers. The victim was left shaken but sustained no physical injuries, police reported. Officials noted that Zamora had previously lived with the victim in Hollywood, but she asked him to leave in December due to alleged aggressive behavior.
'They had a prior romantic relationship which had ended, and it ended allegedly to some infidelities,' Niemzyck explained. 'But he has a significant violent criminal history to include past attempted kidnapping.'
Legal Proceedings
The victim obtained a protective order against Zamora in March after he was arrested for a weapons violation. He currently resides in Fort Pierce. Zamora is being held at the St Lucie County Jail on a $750,000 bond. The Daily Mail has contacted police for further information.
