Captor Releases Teen Hostage From Antioch Robbery

Bay City News Service

   A 16-year-old boy who was kidnapped at gunpoint during a robbery at a barbershop in Antioch on Monday was found safe Tuesday, but questions remain about what happened and why the boy was taken. 

  The robbery occurred at Al's Barber Shop at 11 W. 18th St. at about 3:40 p.m. Monday, police said.

  Al Holmes, who works at the barbershop, said that he was in the shop alone when the gunman came in.

  "The guy just came in, ordered me to the ground ... and stripped me of everything I had on me," Holmes said.

  He said the man pointed the gun at his head and threatened to shoot him if he didn't do what he was told.

  While this was happening, the 16-year-old boy, Hasaan Ameer Ford, who did odd jobs around the shop, came back from running an errand, Holmes said.

  The gunman stole Holmes' keys and forced the teenager at gunpoint to get into Holmes' truck, Holmes said. 

  Holmes reported the incident and police issued a statewide Amber Alert for the teenager, police said.

  Investigators later heard from the boy's family that his captor had released him. Based on information from the family, police believe Ford was not physically hurt in the incident, Antioch police Capt. Leonard Orman said.

  However, as of late Tuesday morning, police still hadn't been able to talk to him, Orman said.

  Orman said he didn't know why the boy was not making himself available to investigators, but said he wants to encourage him to talk to them.

  Police have recovered Holmes' truck in Antioch and are processing it for evidence, Orman said.

  The gunman was still outstanding Tuesday. He is described as a black man about 25 years old. He is about 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs about 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, big pants and a knitted cap.