Colorado Springs, Colorado — A disabled U.S. Army veteran says a routine trip to buy Pokémon cards with his 5-year-old son turned into a terrifying ordeal after a woman allegedly drove her vehicle toward them outside a Target store, leaving him injured while he tried to protect his child.
Police say they are actively searching for the 71-year-old suspect, who now faces multiple criminal charges after an arrest warrant was issued.
Father Says He Shielded His Son From Oncoming Vehicle
According to authorities, the incident involved Miguel Tully, a disabled Army veteran, and Christine Eisenstaedt, whom police have identified as the suspect.
Video recorded by Tully on his cellphone captured the tense confrontation and has since spread widely across social media. In the footage, Tully can be seen standing in front of his 5-year-old son, repeatedly telling the driver not to move toward them.
He can be heard saying:
“Don’t come this way. Don’t hit me, I have my child here.”
Despite his warnings, Tully alleges the vehicle continued forward, forcing him to shield his young son from the impact.
Parking Lot Confrontation Began After Earlier Crash
Tully told local media that he had witnessed the woman involved in a separate collision in the Target parking lot before the incident involving him and his son.
According to his account, he attempted to prevent the woman from leaving after the earlier crash while waiting for authorities to respond.
Moments later, he alleges she drove her Hyundai toward him. The video captures Tully trying to reason with the driver while standing directly in front of the vehicle with his son nearby.
He later said he was stunned that anyone would continue driving with a child clearly in front of the vehicle.
Young Boy Left Traumatized After Incident
Tully said his son was left deeply shaken by what happened. According to the father, the child now becomes frightened whenever he sees red cars, believing the driver has returned.
He said his son often points at passing vehicles and refers to the suspect as “the bad lady,” describing the emotional impact the incident has had on the young boy.
The family says helping the child overcome the trauma will likely take time.
Veteran Hospitalized Following Alleged Assault
Tully was transported to the hospital after suffering a leg injury during the incident.
He also said the collision aggravated several service-related injuries, including ongoing problems involving his knee, back, spine, and neck.
The veteran described the incident as one that could have ended much worse, saying he believes his son could have been seriously injured had he not stepped in front of the vehicle.
Police Continue Search for Suspect
According to Colorado Springs police, an arrest warrant has been issued for Christine Eisenstaedt, 71.
She is expected to face charges including assault, child abuse, reckless endangerment, and careless driving once she is taken into custody.
As of the latest update, police said the suspect had not yet been located, and the investigation remains active.
Authorities have not released additional information regarding when they expect the arrest to occur or whether the suspect has obtained legal representation.
What are your thoughts on this case? Should penalties be increased when children are placed in danger during alleged road rage or parking lot incidents? Share your opinion in the comments below.
