San Diego police investigate attempted kidnapping at Mission Valley Mall – NBC 7 San Diego

San Diego police are investigating a report that a suspect attempted to kidnap a 6-year-old girl at Mission Valley Mall Tuesday afternoon.

The girl was pushing a stroller with her 8-month-old brother in it and was walking behind her mother outside Buffalo Wild Wings around 1:45 p.m. when the male suspect approached her from behind, grabbed her by the shoulders, lifted her up and walked 4 to 5 feet, according to San Diego police.

She screamed, and her mother turned around and confronted the suspect, who said he thought the girl was someone else before walking away and driving away, police said.

According to SDPD Lt. Bryan Brecht, the mother and daughter then went to security at the nearby Target store, where the mother called 911.

Police described the suspect as a man in his 30s to 40s, approximately 5’10” tall and 150 pounds, with shoulder-length, slicked-back black hair. He was wearing a mint green shirt and gray pants, according to camera evidence and witness statements obtained by SDPD.

Further details were not immediately available.

This is a developing story and will be updated as new information arrives.