Amber Alert

3-Year-Old Girl Found Safe After Abduction, Amber Alert on Long Island; Mother Sought After Shooting Turns Herself in: Police

What to Know

  • A 3-year-old girl abducted on Long Island Thursday night has been found safe, authorities said Friday morning
  • The girl was taken near Pleasure Drive in Riverhead around 8:22 p.m. Thursday following a "domestic dispute," officials had said.
  • Patricia Tennant, 42, shot her child's father, Andrew Mitchell, multiple times and fled the scene, police say

The 3-year-old girl kidnapped on Long Island late Thursday, prompting an Amber Alert early the next morning, has been found safe, authorities said -- and her mother, who police said is wanted for allegedly shooting the child's father, has turned herself into authorities.

Southampton Town Police said Vanessa Tennant-Mitchell had been located safely by about 10 a.m. Friday, three hours after the Amber Alert was activated.

The girl was taken near Pleasure Drive in Riverhead around 8:22 p.m. Thursday, officials had said. 

Lt. Susan Ralph said the incident appeared to be a "domestic dispute" on Pleasure Drive in which Patricia Tennant, 42, shot her child's father, Andrew Mitchell, multiple times and fled the scene. 

Mitchell, 46, was subsequently airlifted to an area hospital with serious, but non life-threatening injuries, according to Ralph. 

The child was found Friday with a relative of Tennant and that relative is cooperating with authorities, Ralph said as they try to determine if the child was present during the shooting and, if so, at what time the child was dropped off. 

The family member allegedly contacted police after she saw the Amber Alert, Ralph said, adding that both Tennant and Mitchell had joint custody.  

According to police, Child Protective Services are involved and will determine if the child will stay with the blood relative or turned over to someone else. 

Tennant was driving a grey Hyndai Santa Fe that was subsequently located, abandoned, in Suffolk County, but police continued their search for her. According to Southampton Town Police, Tennant turned herself in Friday afternoon.

Although the weapon used in the shooting was recovered, Ralph initially warned the public to "use extreme caution" if they come across Tennant because she was seen prior to the shooting in "an agitated state and because of that we are concerned."

It is unclear if Tennant will face charges or if she has an attorney to comment on her behalf. 

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