8-year-old boy who rescued sister from attempted kidnapping: 'I wasn't letting them take sissy'

An 8-year-old Ohio boy named Chance is being applauded for his bravery after he saved his older sister and himself from an attempted carjacking and kidnapping last week.

"This little guy is a hero. No question," said Middletown Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw. "He pulled his sister out of the car with no concern for his own safety."

Chance and his sister, 10-year-old Skylar, were sitting in the backseat of their great-grandmother's car outside Atrium Medical Center in Middletown on April 25 when the incident took place.

Their senior relative, 69-year-old Nita Coburn, had taken another elderly woman to the hospital and pulled up close to the entrance to help the patient into the emergency room around 4:20 p.m., according to the Middletown Division of Police.

About ten seconds after Coburn got out of her vehicle, the suspect, 24-year-old Dalvir Singh, jumped into the driver’s seat and took off with the two children still in the back, police said.

Chance sprang into action, opening the door to try and escape. However, the man quickly latched onto Skylar's hoodie to stop her from exiting the vehicle and began driving away.

The 8-year-old then grabbed his sister tightly and the two of them tumbled from the moving car, escaping relatively unscathed.

Unaware the children escaped, a horrified Coburn continued chasing after the car, was able to open the driver’s door and attempted to regain control of the vehicle, until Singh slammed and locked the door.

Still thinking her great-grandchildren were inside, Coburn proceeded to hang onto the vehicle until Singh accelerated at such a high rate of speed that she was forced to let go.

Once she realized the kids were safe, Coburn said Chance told her he risked his own safety because "I wasn’t letting them take sissy.”

Middletown Police Officers observed Coburn's stolen vehicle fleeing the scene and apprehended Singh. He has been charged with two counts of kidnapping, felonious assault and grand theft.

"That is incredible at his age and outstanding work by Officers Kirby and Engleka to find the suspect and take him down without incident," Chief Muterspaw said following the arrest. "So proud of their work."