‘He was hiding’: Mother says her daughter is traumatized by attempted abduction in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Mass — Police are investigating after a child told her mother that she was grabbed by a masked man in a Lexington backyard on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

The possible child abduction attempt occurred in a backyard on Wood Street around 2:00 p.m., according to the Lexington Police Department.

The 9-year-old girl told adults she was playing outside when she was grabbed from behind and had a hand placed over her mouth. Police said the girl was able to break free and run away, and the person in question fled the area

The girl’s mother, Ashley, did not want to provide her last name but said her daughter got away by kicking the suspect.

“He was hiding basically in the back, so I don’t know what he was planning on doing but it’s just kinda creepy to know that there’s someone in your backyard hiding,” said Ashley. “She heard what was like some sticks breaking in the back and I’m pretty sure she thought it was deer because we have a lot of deer, and she went towards the middle of my backyard and she didn’t see anything, so she was walking back over here and someone grabbed her from behind and she kicked them and she got away.”

Police described the suspect as a male who was dressed in all black, and also wearing a black ski mask.

Ashley told Boston 25 her daughter is traumatized by the experience.

“She’s a little freaked out, we all are,” said Ashley. “I guess I’m panicking a little bit.”

Lexington police are investigating the incident and officials say details are being shared with other local detective groups.

“Rest assured, the matter is being investigated by members of the Lexington Police Detective Bureau, and information continues to be shared with regional detective groups,” the department said in a statement. “If anyone was in the area at the time and saw something out of the ordinary, please contact the Lexington police.”

Any neighborhood resident with a doorbell or security camera is also asked to review their footage between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Thursday for anything that may seem out of the ordinary.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we encourage all members of the community to be vigilant and contact the police department if they observe any suspicious behavior or anything out of the ordinary in their neighborhoods,” the department added.

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