Carjacker punches 12-year-old before taking car

TAMPA (FOX 13) - A 12-year-old was punched in the face by a carjacker Friday, and Tampa police are searching for the suspect.

It happened around 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Bible Based Fellowship Christian Childcare Center on N. 46th St., when a mom left her 12-year-old son in her car while she scooped her 5-year-old from daycare.

Sayomara, who did not want to show her face on camera for her family's safety, spoke to FOX 13 News Friday evening. She said she parked her silver, 2009 Toyota Corolla and left it running while she went inside the pick up her 5-year-old. Her 12-year-old son, Xavier stayed in the car, playing video games.

She said she was gone for only 5-minutes, but that was long enough for a thief to target her still-running vehicle.

Xavier said the suspect opened the back, driver's side door and sucker-punched him, yelling for him to get out of the car. As soon as he did, the suspect got into the driver's seat and drove off.

Xavier was still in the hospital Friday evening after suffering swelling and bruising to his face.

Making matters worse, Sayomara's purse with cell phone, wallet and ID were in the car. She added, she was just grateful her son was able to get out of the car before things got worse.

Police said Friday, they were were trying to find the car and the suspect who took it. The suspect was described as a 19 or 20-year-old black male, about 6-feet tall and 180 pounds. Police said his hair was in short twists, he had gold teeth, wore earrings in both ears, and was wearing a blue, polo-style shirt and blue jeans.

The vehicle is a silver, 2009 Toyota Corolla with a Florida license tag of DQH D48.