A Salt Lake man was charged Thursday with kidnapping a woman at gunpoint after police say she met the man intending to buy a pair of shoes he was selling. (ESB Professional, Shutterstock)
Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
SOUTH SALT LAKE — Criminal charges were filed Thursday against a Salt Lake man accused of assaulting and kidnapping a woman at gunpoint after she met up with him to buy a pair of shoes.
Najee Eugene Christopher 26, is charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony; obstructing justice, a second-degree felony; and sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor.
A woman had contacted Christopher via Snapchat about purchasing a pair of shoes he was selling. The woman offered to pay for the shoes though Venmo and have Christopher drop them off at her residence, but he declined, stating he had been robbed before, according to charging documents. Police say the two — who had previously worked together — then agreed to meet in Salt Lake City on Dec. 29.
When Christopher pulled up in his Jeep, the woman got in to make the purchase, but she told police Christopher started driving and wouldn’t pull over. When the woman told him to pull over and let her out, Christopher pulled out a gun, pointed it at her and asked if she trying to “play him,” the charges state.
“Christopher continued to drive slowly up and down side streets” while asking the woman to remove her leggings, according to the charges. When the woman refused, Christopher grabbed the woman and tried to strip her, according to the charges.
After driving for about 30 minutes, the woman said they pulled into a parking lot near 3400 S. Main. When Christopher stopped, the woman opened the car door to run, and then had to fight off Christopher who tried to grab her, the charges state.
As she was running from the Jeep, the woman heard what she thought was a gunshot being fired.
When questioned by police, Christopher claimed he was “set up” by the woman and that she was in his vehicle to sell marijuana to him, the charges say. Detectives then pointed out that a bullet hole was found in a nearby business where Christopher allegedly fired the shot. The gun believed to have been used during the kidnapping was later recovered off the roof of a business, a police affidavit states. After being questioned, Christopher was arrested.
×