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9 year-old girl attacked in bathroom at southside Best Buy

James Patrick Tadros Jacksonville Police say James Patrick Tadros lurred a 9-year-old girl into a bathroom at the Best Buy on Southside Blvd. and attacked her. (Jacksonville Sheriff's Office)
(Jacksonville Sheriff's Office)

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says a man lured a 9 year-old girl into the bathroom at the Best Buy on Southside Boulevard next to the Avenues Mall.

Police say the girl is in the hospital right now in stable condition.  She sustained injuries.  The suspect was taken downtown by police for questioning Friday night.

The incident happened Friday at 5:30 p.m.  Police say the girl was lured away from her mother, and it appears the suspect was trying to kill her.

29-year-old James Patrick Tadros is accused of luring the girl into a bathroom and attacking her.

Police say a woman was standing outside the store's restrooms and heard someone screaming and crying from inside.  She entered the women's restroom and heard mumbling from inside one of the stalls, according to police.  The witness then called store employees who came to help.

According to a news release issued Saturday morning, a Best Buy employee looked under the door of the handicapped stall and saw Tadros holding the child's head inside the toilet.  Police say Tadros dropped the nine-year-old girl, who was able to crawl out of the stall. Employees then took her away from danger.

A detective on the scene told our partner Action News the quick thinking of the employees likely saved the young girl's life.  "If store employees had not acted, it could have been a lot worse," said Sgt. Jay Farhat.

But JSO says employees did not stop there; they detained Tadros until police arrived. 

Police say there was "blood all over the inside of the restroom stall."  Farhat said the suspect was trying to kill the child.

Public Information Officer Melissa Bujeda described the brutality of the attack, "The victim told a store employee that she did not know the suspect.  The victim stated the suspect kicked and punched her and put a plastic bag over her head and stuck her head inside the toilet."

It's still not clear how the suspect was able to lure the girl away.

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