A 2-year-old girl abducted at gunpoint early Wednesday morning was found safe by evening, Chicago Police confirmed. The child, identified as Attumn Shelley, was taken from the 4800 block of South Michigan Avenue in a stolen SUV.
According to initial reporting by the Chicago Sun-Times, the abduction involved the child’s biological mother and two men. The group forcibly entered the home and fled with the toddler in a gray Nissan Kick, license plate ER12467.
CBS News reported that the home targeted belonged to Attumn’s paternal grandmother, who currently has legal custody of the child and an emergency order of protection against the mother. The grandmother cited ongoing mental health concerns and past incidents that led to the protective order.
“They were able to get Attumn at gunpoint. They put a gun to my sister and my brother’s head. About four guys and the mother of the child… came in and just basically took her,” the grandmother told CBS News.
Despite receiving what she described as a ransom note demanding silence, the grandmother contacted authorities out of fear for her granddaughter’s safety.
Chicago Police have not announced any arrests. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to call detectives at 312-747-8380.
The incident, though resolved safely, has drawn attention to the complexities of child custody disputes and the dangers posed when they escalate amid mental health crises.
