A 16-year-old girl from Miami is being praised for her quick thinking and bravery after she fought off a man who allegedly tried to abduct her.
The frightening encounter took place on February 20, 2025, when Valerie was walking in her South Miami neighborhood.
According to police, 32-year-old Brian Gamboa, who was intoxicated, approached Valerie in his car. He tried to force her inside, grabbing her by the shoulders and hitting her in the back of the head.
Valerie didn’t hesitate and immediately fought back.
“I threw my phone at him. I started kicking, screaming, and punching him,” she said. The situation escalated when Gamboa pushed her to the ground, but Valerie refused to give up.
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She managed to drag him down with her, kicked him in the crotch and head, and ran for help.
Valerie screamed and knocked on a neighbor’s door before Gamboa fled the scene. He was later arrested after crashing his car. Despite the terrifying ordeal, Valerie only suffered a knee injury, which she showed in a video interview.
“I got pretty lucky,” she said. “It could have been way worse for me. I didn’t want to have a story like that, so I was just fighting.”
Valerie, still shaken, hopes her story encourages others to act bravely in difficult situations.
“Always fight back, no matter how scary the situation is, and always scream for help,” she said.
