Good Samaritan who helped rescue toddler in DC carjacking surprised with spending spree
WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - A good Samaritan who rushed to rescue a toddler who was abducted during a carjacking in the District was surprised with a shopping spree Friday morning.
Donnita Scott was with Jacqueline Elliott the evening of Feb. 25 when they saw a man steal Tamara Richardson's car with her 2-year-old son Marco inside.
Richardson had stopped to fix a seatbelt that was hanging loosely from her car's back door when 21-year-old Matthew Walker allegedly jumped in the driver's seat and drove off.
Without hesitation, Scott and Elliott sprang into action, pulled up their vehicle and told Richardson to jump in. Scott, Elliott and Richardson followed the suspect while they called 911. Walker drove less than a half a mile before pulling over and fleeing the vehicle, leaving Marco and the vehicle behind, according to authorities.
RELATED: Good Samaritans help save the day after man steals car with toddler inside in DC
Police said Walker was later arrested and charged with kidnapping and unarmed carjacking.
Scott recently fell on hard times and was temporarily homeless. She lost all her furniture and many of her belongings after the place she was living became infested with bed bugs and mold.
FOX 5 teamed up with Easterns Automotive and Value City Furniture to help Pay It Forward to Scott after hearing of her courageous and selfless act.
Value City Furniture donated $1,000 in gift cards to Scott for her to purchase new furniture and Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive presented Scott with $1,000 in Target gift cards so she can replace many of her belongings.
If you know someone who should be featured on Pay It Forward, you can nominate them here. In your email, be sure to include who they are and why they deserve to be recognized.