A Tacoma woman was carjacked at gunpoint in late August after three suspects targeted her with a gun equipped with a laser sight near South Union and 31st St in Tacoma.
Kimberlee Calabazas told KIRO 7 she had just exited Highway 16 and pulled over near an AMPM store to order food on her phone when she noticed a red laser dot on her body. Three boys approached her vehicle, forced her out at gunpoint, and stole her car.
Recalling the moment she realized a weapon was aimed at her, Calabaza said the event felt surreal. "It went in slow motion yet it happened really fast," Calabaza said. "This red dot, and I just kind of in my mind I'm thinking, what is that?"
As three young suspects approached her vehicle, one rapped a firearm on her driver-side window, ordering her out. She says she was manhandled when pulled from her vehicle, and one of the suspects jammed a gun into her ribs and repeatedly threatened to shoot her.
"When somebody's pointing a gun at you, you comply," Calabaza said. "I saw two boys with guns. And I don't know, it's pretty traumatic actually."
She says three boys jumped into the vehicle and drove off. The following day, Tacoma police located the stolen car, leading to a high-speed pursuit when the driver attempted to flee. In the video the juvenile suspects can be seen abandoning the vehicle and fled on foot before officers captured them nearby. Investigators found guns inside the car and the suspects were arrested.
While dealing with the aftermath of the robbery, Calabaza discovered a traffic violation issued to her stolen vehicle in Seattle, which is most likely from when the carjackers were driving her vehicle. "Here's the kicker: yesterday I got a red light ticket for Saturday morning in Seattle," Calabaza said.
She told KIRO 7 it's now very likely she will have to contest the citation. Calabaza said she has attended the suspects' court arraignments and described their demeanor.
"When I went to the arraignment, I recognized them immediately, and they just act like they don't care," Calabaza said. She is concerned that if carjackings like this happen to more people, it could result in worse circumstances for the next victim. "Eventually somebody's going to get killed," she said.
The emotional strain of the attack continues to affect her daily life. "Still haven't gotten over it trying to function now," Calabaza said. To help recover her losses, Calabaza's son created a GoFundMe page to support her recovery.