Police say man threatens Muslim leader then kidnaps baby

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Police said a man was armed with an AK-47 style assault rifle when he threatened a Muslim leader in front of an elementary school.

Gainesville Police also said Marquis Bonds, 24, then stole a van with a 1-year-old girl inside.

Imam Bilal Ali, the religious leader of the Gainesville Islamic Cultural Center, said he was driving home, turning on Prior Street Monday when he saw a car behind him suddenly bolt in front. He said the vehicle blocked his vehicle and others in the middle of the road.

“I was in the vehicle and I opened the door once he pulled in front of me, and I asked him what's going on,” said Ali.

He said Bonds stepped out of the car with a grey bag with police say an AK-47 style assault rifle in it.

“He's working trying to open the bag to get it open and then he's cussing at me and tell me he's going to kill me,” said Ali.

Ali said he backed away in his vehicle, thankful Bonds was fumbling with the weapon in the bag on the trunk of his car.

“It was as though he, something was against him taking it out of the bag because I was so close to him he could have shot me,” said Ali.

Gainesville police said Bonds then fled, ending up at a convenience store on Athens Street. They said Bonds threatened several people with his weapon then jumped into a van with the engine running with a one year old girl inside. Police said her frantic mom was just outside the van.

“He drove off in that vehicle with the baby which certainly put us on a very high alert,” said Chief Deputy Jay Parrish, with the Gainesville Police Department.

Parrish said Bonds surrendered to Gainesville police and Hall County deputies a short distance away.

“And he was pulling the baby out of the car seat and he surrendered the baby to us and surrendered himself to us without incident,” said Parrish.

Bonds is charged with kidnapping, theft by taking, possession of a gun by a convicted felon, aggravated assault and aggressive driving.

“I think it was an erratic crime spree. I think he wanted to incite fear into everybody he came into contact with that day,” said Parrish.

Imam Ali said he doesn't know Bonds or why he came after him, but does know Bond's father.

“So he came to my house and sat and talked. He apologized on behalf of him and the family for the action of his son,” said Ali.

He also said he would like to understand what was in the heart and mind of Bonds, which is why he said he intends to go to the Hall County Jail to try to have a conversation with Bonds.