A 14-year-old Georgia girl was abducted from her home by two armed men after her mother refused to hand over money and jewelry, Good Morning America reported Wednesday, as featured on Yahoo!
Ayvani Hope Perez, a 14-year-old, was still in her pajamas when two armed intruders broke into her Ellenwood, Georgia home at around 2:15 a.m. Tuesday. The men were looking for jewelry and money, Police said.
According to the authorities, Ayvani was taken away after her mother said that they didn't have any money or jewelry to hand over to the intruders. The armed men became furious and shot Perez's family dog and hurriedly left the home with Ayvani.
The abducted girl's aunt, Suky Guerrero, told ABC News affiliate WSB-TV that Ayvani's family is now trying to put gather as much money to pay an alleged ransom, as requested by the armed men.
Meanwhile, police have denounced the claim that a ransom has been demanded from the family by the suspects.
We do believe the young lady is in harm's way. We are actively and diligently investigating this situation to make sure she is returned safely," Clayton County Police Lt. Marc Richards said.
Good Morning America reported that authorities are now looking for a grey Dodge, the intruders used, when they were drove away from the scene, adding that police have already releases sketches of the suspects.
The FBI has reportedly joined the authorities in search for the young girl and the suspects.
"Our absolute, number one priority is the safe return of a 14-year-old, innocent girl," FBI agent in charge Mark Giuliano said.
Perez's family had just moved to Ellenwood, about 10 miles southeast of Atlanta, a month ago, leading the police to speculate that they have no direct or even indirect connection to the abductors.
The kidnapping incident left Perez's neighbors shocked and stunned, but they have already set up Facebook pages in hopes of bringing the teen home alive.
"I hurt for the child, I hurt for the parents," neighbor Veroniece Marable said. "That child must be frightened to be with strangers and taken from her home."
Reports also stated that Ayvani's friends and classmates have gathered Tuesday night, and prayed for her safe return.
"Just give her back. I mean, you got what you wanted obviously," Perez's friend Serena Campbell told ABC News. "It's very hard to even grasp the fact that this has happened. I'm still in the stage of this isn't real..."
Family friends revealed that the family does not have a lot of money after purchasing their new home.
"I'm more worried and angry about the fact that they chose her family out of any other family because they just bought a house. They have no money and they didn't really have anything to begin with," family friend Ayden Collazo said.
According to an Amber Alert, Ayvani stands 4-feet-9, weighing 93 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair, and was last seen wearing blue and grey Star Wars pajama bottoms and a blue and grey superhero shirt at the time of the kidnapping incident.
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