KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A 21-year-old woman says she’s thankful to be alive after being carjacked and kidnapped by two armed men. Amber Cordero said a late night ride to Topeka with her friend could have been the last day of her life.
She said that she and a friend, Carl Boyd, were flagged down by two men on Arter Street, men Boyd thought he knew.
“They waved us down and asked for a ride for gas money and that’s what we did,” said Cordero.
Within minutes of picking up the men, Cordero said she and Boyd were forced into the trunk of his car at gunpoint. She said she thought the men were going to kill them because she was told not to look at them or say anything.
About two hours later, Cordero said the armed men were speeding down Interstate 70 towards Kansas City and being chased by police because they blew through a toll booth without paying.
“By the time the car stopped, we could hear both of them and Carl told me not to say anything in case it’s still them outside, then I guess Carl heard the radio from the policeman and he hit the trunk,” said Cordero.
Cordero said she’s glad the carjackers didn’t stop at the toll booth, if they did; she believes she and her friend would have been killed.
Two men, 20-year-old Lashon Stewart and 24-year-old Jakeem Coopwood are charged with two counts of kidnapping and aggravated robbery. Both are being held on $150,000 bond.