In a tragic turn of events, 29-year-old Alexa Stakely of Columbus, Ohio, was killed while trying to save her six-year-old son from a carjacker. The incident occurred at White Oak Park Condominiums early Thursday morning. Stakely left her car running to collect her son’s belongings, and when someone attempted to steal the vehicle with her son inside, she bravely jumped on the hood but was thrown off and later died from her injuries.

Witnesses saw two males fleeing the scene and abandoning the car with the boy still inside, unharmed. Police believe the suspects were part of a group seen casing the area earlier. Sgt. James Fuqua urged the public to review security footage to help identify the perpetrators.

Stakely was a speech-language pathologist at Winchester Trail Elementary and also worked as a server to support her son. Her brother, Hayden Swartz, praised her dedication as a mother and called for those responsible to come forward. “Do what is right. Justice needs to be served,” he said.

A GoFundMe account has been established to support her son’s future needs. This heartbreaking incident highlights the risks of car theft and the lengths to which parents will go to protect their children. The community is offering support to Stakely’s family and seeking justice for her tragic death.