Screams foil kidnap attempt

In the time it took for her to return her shopping cart, a Level 3
sex offender jumped into her car and hid in the backseat. As she drove
away, the man, armed with a knife, began attacking her.

Screams filled the lot.

In what Tukwila police are saying was a random and rare attack, the
man tried to abduct the woman -- but was thwarted after she yelled and
witnesses used force to stop him.

The woman, 34, of Kent, escaped injuries.

"This could have been much, much worse," said Mike Murphy, Tukwila
police spokesman. "She is a brave person. She refused to be a victim."

The attempted kidnapping occurred around 7 p.m.

As her screams flew through the car's unrolled windows, other shoppers rushed to help. Her attacker tried to run away.

One man started chasing the attacker, but quickly found the knife pointing at him.