Attempted Kidnapping in Coney Island Thwarted by Child’s Screaming

A man donning a tall, unusual hat attempted to abduct a 6-year-old boy on a busy Coney Island street Sunday night. The incident was caught on video, showing the man briefly grabbing the child before the boy’s screams alarmed his parents, prompting a quick response.

Mom Sharon Robinson, 41, recounted how her son Rah’Shem “Rah’Rah” Gantt’s cries alerted her to the danger. She described seeing a stranger holding her son firmly “like a football,” and feared that without the scream, the man might have committed worse harm, including assault or worse.

The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Jonathan Robalino, dressed entirely in black including a fez-style hat, was accused of grabbing Gantt near Stillwell and Surf avenues just before 10 p.m. After the boy’s cry, the man threw him to the ground and fled, believing the parents’ pursuit would cease.

In the video footage, the parents are seen chasing Robalino onto the street. Robinson managed to push him down, causing him to fall near the IT’SUGAR candy shop. Witnessing the commotion, police officers arriving at a nearby post quickly apprehended the suspect.

Rah’Shem was taken to Coney Island Hospital with minor injuries and remains in stable condition. His mother described him as crying continuously even after the ambulance arrived, shaken by the terrifying experience.

Robinson emphasized her distress, stating they had never seen the man before and wanted full legal charges, including a felony, to be pressed against him.