Crime & Safety

Two Teens Charged with Carjacking Mother at Gunpoint, Eluding Police

16-year-old Puyallup resident Michael Vanzant and Tacoma teen Etionsa Esanbor have been charged in Pierce County court for allegedly robbing and threatening a Tacoma mother with her baby, then leading police on a chase on Sept. 25, 2012.

Two local teens have plead not guilty to stealing a car from a woman holding her child, pointing a gun at her then leading police on a chase last Tuesday, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.

Two 16-year-old boys–Michael Vanzant of Puyallup and Etionsa Esanbor of Tacoma–will be tried as adults in Pierce County Court. They face charges of first-degree robbery, second-degree assault and attempting to elude a police vehicle.

According to charging documents, the victim was taking her baby out of a car seat in the parking lot of her Tacoma apartment complex when the two teens approached her and demanded the keys. Esanbor then pointed a firearm at her and threatened to shoot her. She handed over the keys and called 9-11.

Find out what's happening in Puyallupwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Within minutes, police located the vehicle, driven by Vanzant. They ordered him to pull over but the pursuit continued until both teens decided to jump out of the car and run away.

The teens were taken into custody; Esanbor had a backpack with the handgun in it.

Find out what's happening in Puyallupwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to reports, the teens needed a ride so they decided to steal a car with the gun a friend had given them after school.

Esanbor’s bail was set at $200,000; Vanzant is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Puyallup