A simple family dinner at a Burger King in Memphis turned into a terrifying ordeal for Kristin Gillia and her three children earlier this week. The evening began like any other, a quick stop for food, but quickly spiraled into a nightmare of reckless violence and fear.
Gillia discovered their order was incomplete – a child’s fries were missing. Leaving two of her children briefly in the car, she returned inside to rectify the mistake, a seemingly harmless act that would change everything in an instant.
Before she could return, the unthinkable happened. Two individuals brazenly carjacked her vehicle, and in their callous escape, ejected her children from the moving car onto the pavement. Thankfully, the children appeared physically unharmed, though deeply shaken by the experience.
As the suspects sped away in Gillia’s 2007 Ford Edge, they allegedly ran over her foot, resulting in a broken ankle. She now faces weeks of recovery, confined to a boot, a painful reminder of the harrowing event.
Police quickly located the abandoned vehicle nearby and identified the suspects as Antonio Alexander, 25, and Alexis Kearney, 31. Both were apprehended and taken into custody, bringing a measure of relief to a traumatized family.
Kearney faces carjacking charges, while Alexander is charged with a more extensive list including theft of a firearm, auto theft, and the aggravated assault on Gillia. The severity of the charges reflects the dangerous and reckless nature of their actions.
Despite the physical pain and emotional trauma, Gillia offered a poignant message, a warning born from her own experience. “Don’t leave your kids in the car,” she urged, “It’s not worth it. Don’t leave your keys in the car.”
She emphasized that the responsibility for this terrifying incident doesn’t lie with her children, who were simply following instructions to lock the doors. It’s a stark reminder of the vulnerability families can face and the importance of vigilance.
The incident serves as a chilling example of the unpredictable nature of violence and the lasting impact it can have on innocent lives. It’s a story of a mother’s courage and a family’s resilience in the face of unimaginable fear.
