One evening in Flint, Michigan, four young girls were out for a bit of fun.
However, they soon found themselves in a situation that would test their courage in ways they never expected.
Sisters Allison and Lauren Eickhoff, along with two close friends, Chloe and Cadence, had just grabbed drinks from a local convenience store when they crossed paths with a stranger.
There was something off about him from the start, something that set alarm bells ringing in their heads.
As they stepped out of the store, the air, previously filled with their laughter, suddenly turned tense.
Allison, with a sense of unease, recalled to Inside Edition how the man looked “really weird.”
This unease escalated into outright fear when he made his move, grabbing Allison, his hand over her mouth, his words chilling: “You’re coming with me.”
The shock of this sudden attack was paralyzing, but these girls were far from helpless.
What happened next was as brilliant as it was bold.
In a moment of sheer instinct and ingenuity, the girls used what they had in their hands – their iced coffees and a Slurpee.
Yes, you read that right.
With a flurry of cold drinks, they took the assailant by surprise, then continued being in attack mode.
Allison told WNEM-TV:
“My sister’s friend just kept hitting, kicking, and scratching him and I just kept hitting him too.”
Their strength and icy drinks caused the man to give up, turning a casual snack into an impromptu weapon of self-defense.
Later, when the dust had settled, the true extent of their bravery became clear.
The attacker’s shirt, stained with coffee and Slurpee, showed their quick thinking.
It was a situation that would have overwhelmed many, but these girls showed that even in the most frightening moments, one can fight back, and fight back effectively.
Among the group, eleven-year-old Allison stood out for her knowledge of self-defense, a skill imparted by her father.
She knew exactly where to strike – the throat, a vulnerable spot that could incapacitate an attacker.
This encounter shows how crucial it is for young people to be equipped with self-defense skills, a vital tool in an unpredictable world.
Allison told Inside Edition:
“Try to punch him, kick him, anything you do just to get away.”
The aftermath of their daring escape led to the arrest of 22-year-old Bruce Hipkins, who faced kidnapping charges.
The evidence of the girls’ resistance was unmistakably splattered across his shirt in his police mugshot, a clear sign of their defiance and bravery.
This incident did more than just foil a kidnapping – it shone a light on the effectiveness of being prepared and ready to defend oneself.
The friends have a strong message:
“Always fight back because you always have a chance.”
Not only were the girls’ families proud of their actions, but the internet was too.
One viewer wrote:
“I’m so proud of the girls for throwing their coffees, they didn’t hesitate that’s for sure. I’m glad they did something and that none of them got kidnapped. Good job girls!”
Another commented:
“True heroes come in many sizes. They not only saved one young girl from being kidnapped and harmed, they could also be responsible for saving many others from the same fate.”
Watch the video below to hear the girls talk about what happened on that frightening day!
Source: YouTube – Inside Edition, CBS News
