Cumberland deputies investigating attempted child abduction

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NC (WTVD) -- The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office is investigating a reported attempted abduction - and a mother has a warning for other parents to watch their children closely.

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The incident happened Wednesday around noon on Linwood Drive. Shannon Northrop, a mother of three, said her 11-year-old daughter Abbygail was outside when a white Ford pickup with three men inside pulled up in the private drive separating her home from her next-door neighbor's.

"He says come on, get in the car, gets out and tries to grab me. I start running and I go inside and tell my mom," said Abbygail.

Abby's mom rushed outside but by the time she got to the driveway, the group had driven away.

"Had I had my weapon on me, he'd be dead and we would be talking about a murder," Northrop said.

It's harsh, yes but Shannon says it's a grave example of the lengths she is willing to go to protect her only daughter.

"I feel like he's going to come back, because he knows where I live now," said Abbygail.

Abby's mother is vowing to never let that happen.

"I'll be sitting on the front porch. I won't be sitting inside looking out the windows every couple of minutes. I will be proactively being outside," said Northrop.

And she had a sobering message for other parents: "Know where your child is every second of the day."

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office has a person of interest in the case, but no suspects in custody. If you know anything about the incident, you're asked to contact your local law enforcement agency.