A Harvey man is behind bars after deputies say he kidnapped his girlfriend’s 1-year-old daughter, led them on a dangerous car chase across the West Bank and then held the child at gunpoint when the pursuit ended in Marrero. The chase came to a halt when the suspect’s vehicle crashed at a busy intersection, and Jefferson Parish deputies say the toddler was rescued unharmed and the man was taken into custody.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as 26-year-old Sahaan Gilmore. Deputies say he grabbed his girlfriend's young daughter from a Maple Avenue home in Harvey and sped off in a white Nissan Altima with the child inside. The pursuit ended when the Altima hit another vehicle at the intersection of Lapalco and Barataria boulevards in Marrero. Authorities say Gilmore then used the toddler as a shield and pointed a gun at the child's head before he was arrested on charges that include aggravated kidnapping, cruelty to a juvenile, aggravated assault with a firearm and aggravated flight from an officer. The child was not injured, according to NOLA.com.
How the chase ended
Deputies say Gilmore refused orders to stop and led officers through several blocks before the crash at Lapalco and Barataria finally brought the pursuit to a stop. After the collision, deputies moved in, secured the toddler and took Gilmore into custody, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.
Mother says suspect demanded money
The child's mother, described in reports as a 23-year-old New Orleans woman, told investigators that Gilmore demanded money and warned he would not return the girl unless she paid him. Deputies say bystanders and responding units helped secure the toddler and remove Gilmore from the vehicle. The child was not hurt, according to NOLA.com.
What the charges mean under state law
Under Louisiana law, aggravated kidnapping (R.S. 14:44) can carry a maximum sentence of life in prison at hard labor, per R.S. 14:44. Aggravated assault with a firearm (R.S. 14:37.4) is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine, according to R.S. 14:37.4. Cruelty to juveniles (R.S. 14:93) makes mistreating or negligently endangering a child a felony and allows for tougher penalties, including up to 20 years at hard labor when the victim is eight or younger, per R.S. 14:93.
Officials ask for tips
Anyone with video or information is asked to contact the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office tip line at 504-363-5500 or submit a tip through the agency's website. The sheriff’s office says the investigation remains active as detectives continue to review evidence and conduct interviews.
Prosecutors are expected to review the case and the evidence before any formal filing decisions are announced. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
