Santa Clarita resident Mauricio Alvarez was carrying his groceries through the Costco parking lot last Friday night when a “suspicious” man charged after his three elementary-aged boys. 

Last week, a social media post about a man “who was a little off” started circulating throughout the NextDoor community after he lunged after a group of young brothers playing near their father’s car in the Costco parking lot. 

Alvarez and his wife brought along their three young boys, ages 2 to 9-years-old, to a last-minute grocery shopping trip around 7:30 p.m. last Friday when they noticed a suspicious man as they ate in the Costco Food Court before their shopping trip. 

“My wife pointed out a fella who was a little off,” Alvarez said in the NextDoor post. “I didn’t put too much care for him. I did notice him though.”

The family finished grocery shopping around the time the store closed at 8:30 p.m. 

“We were some of the last people out of there,” Alvarez said. “I approached my vehicle, my boys were being kids and began playing around it.”

As he loaded his vehicle with groceries, his wife pointed out the man for a second time.

“This time, he was darting towards where my kids were,” Alvarez said. “Once I noticed his pace picked up, I hollered at my boys and told them to get in the car. This dude was probably like 10 feet away from my middle child.” 

The children quickly hopped into the vehicle when they heard the assertiveness in their father’s voice, while the suspect made a sharp left turn and ran towards Via Princessa. 

“I stepped in between him and my family and he made up his mind that it was time to go,” Alvarez said. “I called the sheriff and didn’t want to leave my family alone. Once everyone was strapped in, I drove to the gas station on Sierra Highway and Via Princessa and didn’t see him.”

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After driving past several alternate locations, Alvarez drove back to Costco and met a deputy with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station where they exchanged information. 

The suspect was described as a male, medium build, in his 30’s wearing a black puffer jacket, blue jeans and a black backpack, according to Alvarez. 

The deputy began investigating on-scene, however the suspect remains at-large and no arrests have been made in relation to the incident as of Friday. 

“I feel like we dodged a bullet on our end, but I can’t stop thinking about the what-if’s,” Alvarez said. 

The incident has struck a chord with families across Santa Clarita in the comments of Alvarez’s post, and is reminding residents to remain alert and aware of their surroundings. 

“I’m grateful that my wife was very aware of our surroundings and I just want to give all the parents and everyone in general a heads up to always keep an eye on your surroundings and to look for unusual behavior,” Alvarez said. “This guy was brave enough to approach a family of five and thank God he decided not to follow through with whatever he had in mind.”

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