Who is Shay Lindberg? Brave Iowa mom pulls out gun to ward off duo from kidnapping her son
DES MOINES, IOWA : A mother in Iowa saved her son from two people who attempted to snatch him while in a Des Moines Skywalk. Shay Lindberg, who is the manager of the Hubble Tower Apartments, was armed with a gun. She acted quick by pulled her gun out and warded off the duo.
The two snatchers were identified as Michael Ernest Ross, 43, and Laurie Lynn Potter, 57, who are reported to be homeless. As per the New York Post, the incident occurred on January 5 at 904 Walnut Street in downtown Des Moines, where the skywalk passes through the Hubbell Tower Apartments building.
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Lindberg did not know Ross and Potter. She was in her office, getting ready to leave. She saw the duo walking back-and-forth in front of her office and saw Potter waving at her. Lindberg opened the door while her son was at her side and asked them if there was any problem. According to reports, Potter told Lindberg to give her back her son and crouched down to the child, saying she was his real mother. She then grabbed the child and started to run away, it was then that Lindberg drew out her gun and told them to leave. Potter and Ross are charged with felony child stealing.
Des Moines spokesperson Sgt Paul Parizek said, "In this case, the display of a handgun had the desired effect, and a mother was able to protect her child," “It certainly looks like the big turning point here, the pivotal piece to keeping her child safe was the fact that she was lawfully-armed with a handgun, and she produced it and told them ‘let go of my kid,’”
Lindberg then called Will Hunter of Per Mar Security Services. He recognized Potter based on the descriptions provided. Earlier that morning, Hunter said he came across Ross sitting with Potter near Bank of America in the skywalk, smoking a cigarette. Hunter took a picture of Ross smoking that was later used to identify him. According to Hunter Potter had been repeatedly trying to set up camp inside the skywalk the past week.
According to reports, Hunter called the police and followed Ross and Potter until the police arrived.