Two moms in North Carolina are shaken after an attempted kidnapping apparently happened in front of their faces. The women were shopping with their daughters for Valentine’s Day cards at their local Walmart when Tristan Coleman reportedly tried to grab the girls. His attempts weren’t subtle; he allegedly physically attacked both girls in his effort to disappear with them. Thankfully, the girls were able to get away from Coleman and back to their moms safely, but the trauma of what happened will stay with them for a long time. Thus far, police have not shared a motive for the kidnapping attempt.
On February 13, 2026, around 8 p.m., officers from the Lincolnton Police Department were called to a Walmart about reports of harassment, Queen City News reported. When they arrived, police learned that Coleman, 25, went up to one of the girls and grabbed her in an attempt to get her to go with him.
It was reported that Coleman may have had a cellphone with him at the time. He allegedly pulled one girl’s shorts open and may have taken a photo inside her clothing, the outlet reported. Additionally, he is accused of assaulting another young girl inside the store. Then he walked away.
The moms of the girls, who have not been named, spoke about the traumatic experience. They said their 14- and 9-year-old daughters went into a card aisle where Coleman was allegedly waiting.
“She said he was taking pictures of her, and he was trying to force her by the shoulders,” the mom of the 14-year-old girl told WTVY. He was even more forceful with the 9-year-old girl, they claimed. “She froze and he grabbed her by her neck and her legs and tried to pick her up,” one mom shared.
Naturally, the girls were terrified and ran to find their moms. One of them said her daughter “came to me pouring tears. I’ve never seen her cry so hard,” she said.
Coleman allegedly attempted to kidnap the 9-year-old again right in front of the moms. “It took me a minute to realize what he was doing, then I started to scream for help,” one of the moms said, according to WTVY. They claimed he left the store “nonchalant, like he was doing nothing.”
Coleman was later found and arrested. He has been charged with one count of attempted kidnapping, one count of assault on a female, and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, WTVY reported.
According to Queen City News, his first court appearance was on February 16. He is being held under no bond at Lincoln County Jail.
