The Lubbock Police Department is still investigating an attempted kidnapping that occurred at the Lubbock Civic Center that happened at approximately 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4.
They arrested Lucio Dominguez Jr. for the attempted kidnapping. On Thursday, LPD held a press conference and said they’ve dealt with Dominguez before for other charges. They also said he’s homeless and previously refused help from LPD’s Homeless Outreach Team.
On Wednesday, Lubbock officers were taking a training course on the second floor of the Civic Center when they heard a woman screaming in the lobby. Officers began running down the stairs and were met by a female running toward them.
The female had just escaped an attempted kidnapping and the male suspect was still on scene. The officer, with the help of a Fire Marshal, took the male into custody.
Officers were advised the male had approached the female multiple times while in the lobby. As the female attempted to walk away, the male grabbed her and began carrying her into an adjacent room.
The female began screaming and struggled to get away. She quickly broke free and ran toward officers coming down the stairs. Others nearby also ran to help her. The 26-year-old female victim was not injured.
The male, identified as 33-year-old Lucio Dominguez Jr., was arrested for attempted kidnapping. Dominguez is believed to be homeless.
Jennifer Castillo knows Dominguez and has worked with him for five years at a homeless outreach center. She said that Dominguez suffers from mental illness which affects his behavior.
And although she said what he did was wrong, she hopes this brings a light to the dangerous pair of homelessness and mental illness.
“We got to find the good in the story and I think this is it,” said Castillo. “This is bringing mental health awareness and what we lack, the programs to help them,”
This case remains under investigation.
