SAN ANTONIO – A text message helped a man escape two people who kidnapped him at gunpoint with the goal of stealing his money, San Antonio police say.
Police arrested Levi Smith, 27, and Jose Valencia, 40, earlier this week in connection with the Aug. 23 incident.
An arrest affidavit says police found the victim at a Walmart store on Southeast Military, not far from Interstate 37.
It says he told officers he ended up there after being forced at gunpoint to drive around the area with the goal of withdrawing money from his account to give to the two suspects.
The 20-year-old told officers the suspects initially approached him as he headed into a nearby convenience store and asked for money.
After he exited the store, he said the suspects jumped into his car, then forced him at gunpoint to drive to various locations.
The affidavit says they eventually made their way to a Walmart store where the victim showed an employee a text message explaining he was being kidnapped and robbed.
It says a manager then called 911, and when the suspects realized what was going on, they ran away.
Police obtained surveillance video which helped them identify the suspects, the affidavit says.
Smith and Valencia are both charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
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