RALEIGH, N.C. — Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a violent carjacking and kidnapping incident that unfolded late Thursday in the capital city.
According to Raleigh police, Mateo Domingo Medina, 23, of Zebulon, and Chardazha Naimon Alston, 23, of Wendell, were taken into custody after allegedly assaulting a woman and stealing her vehicle—with her two young children still inside.
The incident occurred in the parking lot of a Food Lion located at 3685 New Bern Avenue. Authorities say the suspects forcefully took the woman’s black Mazda, which had her 11-year-old autistic, non-verbal daughter and 4-year-old child inside at the time.
Investigators have classified the incident as domestic in nature, though specific details about the relationship between the suspects and the victim have not been released.
Shortly after the abduction, a Raleigh police officer located the stolen vehicle parked at Duke Raleigh Hospital, where both Medina and Alston were arrested without resistance.
Both suspects are now facing serious charges, including first-degree kidnapping and motor vehicle larceny. Medina is being held without bond, while Alston’s bond has been set at $5,000. They are both scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
Thankfully, police confirmed that both children were found unharmed and have since been reunited with their mother.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not ruled out additional charges.