Carjacker foiled by victim's texting

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KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Police in Missouri said an accused carjacker was arrested after a passenger exchanged text messages with a friend in a following car.

Kansas City police said Antonio Jackson, 27, of Kansas City, allegedly pointed a gun at two women who were leaving a party at the Peanut bar downtown and ordered them to get into the front seats of their Toyota Highlander when he discovered they were not carrying any cash, the Kansas City Star reported Monday.

The gunman ordered the women to take him to an ATM, but a friend leaving the party approached the vehicle before they left and asked the women if they were OK. The friend, who could not see through the tinted windows to see Jackson in the back seat, said the woman responded they were OK, but he was worried by the driver's facial expression and decided to follow the sport-utility vehicle.

The man sent a text message to the passenger asking again if the women were OK, and she responded, "No, call cops."

The man continued to follow the SUV and called 911.

Police said the driver withdrew $300 from an ATM and gave it to the carjacker before police pulled the vehicle over.

Jackson, who was found in possession of the $300 as well as a semi-automatic handgun with two live rounds of ammunition, was charged with first-degree robbery, kidnapping and two counts of armed criminal action. He was jailed in lieu of $250,000 bond.