A North Miami man was arrested after video from a church parking lot shows him trying to kidnap a 74-year-old woman he had previously been romantically involved with, authorities said.
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It happened on May 31 at around 10:49 a.m. outside First United Methodist Church in Port St. Lucie, police said.
Surveillance video shows the suspect, 64-year-old Jose Tsu Zamora, approaching the victim in the parking lot located in the 2600 block of Southwest Prima Vista Boulevard, despite already having an active injunction prohibiting contact.
As she got out of her car, he told the victim that he wanted to talk to her in his car and “would not allow her to walk away,” an arrest report describes.
When she was able to get away and head toward the church, in front of “several on lookers,” Zamora grabbed the victim, “put an object against her and started to pull her to his vehicle,” the arrest report states.
Police said he was armed with a handgun and held the victim by her arms as he tried to force her to the car.
In the footage, the woman struggles against Zamora before she falls near a tree, as two men appear to confront him.
According to police, “several witnesses observed the incident unfolding and immediately intervened.” Two of the good Samaritans “claimed to be armed” and told Zamora to let go of the victim.
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The men said they saw Zamora making threats and displaying a gun before he fled the scene.
Later that night, Zamora was arrested without incident by the Port St. Lucie Police Department and U.S. Marshals at the 8700 block of Northwest 186th Street in Northwest Miami-Dade.
Zamora, who is a North Miami resident, is a convicted felon who is prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition, according to police.
The victim told authorities that she had dated and lived with Zamora for many years in Hollywood and Fort Pierce, an arrest report states. In December, “she wanted him out of the house as he started getting aggressive with her.”
Authorities said he didn’t leave until March, when he was arrested for a weapons violation. The victim sought an injunction against him in March 2026, which he had violated before this most recent incident, the report states.
Zamora is charged with attempted kidnapping while armed with a firearm, battery on a person 65 years of age or older, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated stalking (violation of injunction) and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
He is being held at St. Lucie County jail on a $745,000 bond.
“This case highlights the outstanding work of our detectives and the courage of Port St. Lucie citizens who were willing to step in and help protect another person in a very dangerous situation,” police said in a statement. “We are grateful the victim was not seriously injured and that this individual is now in custody. PSLPD remains committed to protecting victims of domestic violence and holding offenders accountable.”
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If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.