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A masked 18-year-old man carjacked a woman at gunpoint in Orange County, Florida, telling her he needed the vehicle to go see his grandmother, authorities said.
Deputies arrested Kenneth Shears late Saturday after a brief chase that ended when he crashed the stolen car into another vehicle parked on a front lawn, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said Shears has never had a driver’s license.
The victim spoke out about the ordeal to FOX35 Orlando on condition of anonymity, saying she was sitting in her car when Shears approached with a gun pointed at her. At first, she thought it was a joke.
“I am sorry to be doing this, but I need to see my grandmother,” Shears told the victim, per the arrest report.
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Kenneth Shears, 18, is facing felony charges after he allegedly carjacked a woman at gunpoint in Orange County, Florida, on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Orange County Corrections Department)
She said she pleaded with him for several minutes and offered to give him a ride. Shears promised to return the car, authorities said.
“He looked like something was wrong,” she told the outlet. “If he was robbing me, he could’ve taken all my jewelry. I had on jewelry. He could’ve taken my money. I had money on me and credit cards. He could’ve taken my bag. It had my laptop in it. He didn’t take anything.”
Deputies said Shears led them on a brief car chase before his arrest. (Orange County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
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Deputies said Shears led them on a short chase before crashing into a parked car, totaling both vehicles.
Shears is being held at the Orange County Jail. (iStock)
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Shears faces multiple charges, including carjacking with a firearm, and is being held at the Orange County Jail.