Hall County 10-year-old uses karate to avoid abduction

HALL COUNTY, Ga. - The Hall County Sheriff's Office said a 10-year-old boy is safe and sound after fighting off a would-be kidnapper Tuesday afternoon. 

It happened around 4 p.m. off Old Cornelia Highway. According to investigators, Sebastian Solache was in his driveway when an unknown man approached him from behind, grabbed him and tried to drag him to the back of a nearby home. 

Thankfully, Sebastian knew karate and was able to fight back. He ran away and headed inside, then his mother called 911. 

"He drags me and I elbow him in the ribs," Sebastian said. "From there he slammed me on the floor and ran."

Flor, Sebastian's mom, never heard the screams.

"I was fixing them something to eat when I heard him slam the door and lock it. He was just crying, having a panic attack," she said. "He told me, 'somebody tried to take me, mommy.'"

Flor said she looked out the window and could see the man running away.

"I'm just terrified," she said.

Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Stephen Wilbanks said parents in Hall County need to use caution until deputies can find the suspect and figure out why he went after Sebastian.

"There's nothing in our initial information that we've developed that indicates that it's a connection from a family member or someone who is known to the child," said Wilbanks.

Wilbanks said Sebastian did everything right. He screamed, he fought, and he saved his own life

"Criminals and predators such as this are looking for easy prey. Our advice is, don't be that victim, fight with everything you have," said Wilbanks.

"I just felt proud of myself that I was able to escape," Sebastian said. 

Deputies describe Sebastian's attacker as a white male, with dark pants, a white shirt and had a black cloth covering his face. Anyone with information is asked to call the Hall County Sheriff's Office at 770-531-6879.