PHOENIX — An armed citizen is credited with preventing a preteen girl from being kidnapped, according to Phoenix police.

Phoenix police report that on April 3, an 11-year-old girl was walking to school at 22nd Avenue and Morningside Drive, near 19th Avenue and Union Hills Drive.

The girl was approached by a man with a "very dark" complexion and green eyes, with a stud-style nose ring in his left nostril, and wearing a black hoodie.

The man grabbed the girl by the right arm, and pulled the other arm over her face, according to police.

A witness knocked the suspect down, then pointed a handgun at the suspect, telling him to leave the area.

Don George, who lives in the neighborhood, says this incident has parents on edge.

"Now I'm seeing women and husbands taking their children to school walking them to school and never before in 5 1/2 years have I seen one parent do it, now I'm seeing herds of parents go by," George said.

George said the man that stepped in deserves to be commended, and he urges all parents to remain vigilant.

Investigators are encouraging anyone with information concerning this incident to contact the Phoenix Police Department Child Crimes Unit at 602-534-2121, or if they wish to remain anonymous, they can contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.