WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Winston-Salem police said a missing 1-year-old boy was found safe and canceled the Amber Alert for the child.
The alert was issued early Monday morning as police worked to find the little boy, who they found with his mother in Mooresville, NC.
Investigators said this started around 8 p.m. Sunday. Kewan Brown was driving with his toddler son, Ayden Rippy.
Brown told police another car began chasing after him, and someone then fired a gun at his car, which caused him to crash near Pope Road and Ebert Road.
Brown told police a group of men from the car then grabbed his son and took off.
Detectives said an Amber Alert was issued, and officers found out about an ongoing custody dispute between the parents.
"We gathered information that the mother and the father were in an ongoing custody dispute. The father of the child [was determined] as the driver of the vehicle. We developed more information that the mother was in Mooresville, North Carolina. So, our detectives worked with officers from the Mooresville Police Department. We developed information where she might be, located her, and found the child [also] in her custody unharmed. The mother was arrested and charged with demeanor child abuse in our investigation is still ongoing at this point," Leuitinant Eric Montgomery said.
Then, police found the little boy safe and unharmed in Mooresville, NC, with his mom, Ayana D’mora Siler Rippy.
Ayden's mother was arrested and charged with misdemeanor child abuse.
"It's a dangerous situation. I mean [obviously] it was a conflict that [was handled] the wrong way, but then [you]add to it the potential for someone shooting while driving it's very dangerous. In addition to two vehicles speeding, one Tatian chasing, the other in a neighborhood also puts another motorist at risk," Leuitinant Montgomery said.
WSPD is still actively investigating this case and looking for the suspects who chased Brown before taking the little boy.
If you have any information regarding this abduction, call the Winston-Salem Police Department immediately at (336) 773-7700, or call 911.