Florida Good Samaritan Carjacked at Gunpoint After Stopping to Help Man on Roadside
DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Florida — What began as a Good Samaritan act turned dangerous Monday night when a Florida man stopped to help someone waving for assistance — only to find himself staring down the barrel of a gun.
Suspect Pulled Gun on Motorist After Asking for Ride
According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the victim, who asked to be identified only as Kyle, was driving home around 9 p.m. along State Road A1A when he saw a man waving him down near Daytona Beach Shores.
That man — later identified as 34-year-old Grant Hagood-James — claimed he needed a ride.
“After taking a look at him, I thought this guy is sketchy,” Kyle said. “I started to pull forward, but he stayed at the window. That’s when he said, ‘I need this,’ and I realized he had a gun pointed at me.”
Fearing for his life, Kyle stepped out and let the suspect take the car.
“I realized my life is in danger right now,” he said.
Suspect Flees, Hides in River Mangroves
Deputies said Hagood-James sped off with Kyle’s car, phone, and wallet still inside. The victim was able to flag down another motorist, who helped him call 911.
Minutes later, another 911 call came in from a nearby Port Orange restaurant along the Intracoastal Waterway. Witnesses reported seeing a shirtless man swimming up to the restaurant, running through the building, and then diving back into the water toward the mangroves.
That man was later identified as Hagood-James, prompting a multi-agency search involving deputies, K-9 units, and a police helicopter.
He was eventually found hiding in the mangroves and taken into custody without further incident.
Suspect Held Without Bond
Hagood-James faces multiple felony charges, including armed carjacking, and is currently being held in the Volusia County Jail without bond.
Investigators later found Kyle’s stolen car abandoned in a Port Orange yard with a firearm nearby.
Victim Grateful to Be Alive — But Wary of Stopping Again
Kyle says the experience has shaken his trust but hasn’t entirely erased his faith in people.
“It depends, because thankfully the next person stopped for me when I needed help,” he said. “But I’ll definitely be more cautious next time.”
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