Jesse Rutledge: Tuskegee Airman Carjacked In Broad Daylight In Detroit

Jesse Rutledge, an 88-year-old Tuskegee airman who served in World War II as a gunner on a B-25, was carjacked in Detroit in broad daylight on Saturday, Channel 7 Action News reports.

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“He said,” ‘N*gga give me your keys’ and racked his gun back,” Rutledge said one of the carjackers told him. He was leaving a barbershop when three young men rushed out of an abandoned building and ambushed him. One of the young men pointed a gun in the war hero’s face and demanded that he give up the keys to his 1999 Jeep Cherokee.

At first, Rutledge actually thought he knew the teens.

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“They were little guys and had hoods on,” Rutledge said. “And that little one had the gun. That’s when I really got upset. I was thinking they knew me because I’ve been around (the barbershop) so long.”

He ended up giving up his jeep and the teens sped off. But the police were able to catch the young men and arrest them. One of the suspects was just 13-years-old. The cops also recovered his jeep. Rutledge was happy to get his vehicle back but is especially relieved that no one was hurt.

When reflecting on the young men who carjacked him, Rutledge seemed to be lost for words. “They didn’t have any parents to raise them to know nothing,” he said. “I don’t know.”

Watch Rutledge talk about being carjacked below: