Woman Describes Being Held At Knifepoint In Tulsa Grocery Store

A Tulsa woman said a teenager held her hostage with a knife to her neck for 45 minutes inside a Tulsa grocery store. 

Teresa Brinkley said she went grocery shopping with her five-year-old grandson, when all of a sudden the man grabbed her.

"I saw him when he first came at me and I thought he was just running by me, and when he grabbed me by the neck, I was like oh my God. This has got to be a dream, this can't really be happening," Brinkley said.

 Cell phone video showed Teresa trying to hold back tears and trying to call her husband when the boy grabbed her.

 "I was trying to call him and tell him bye, because I didn't think I was going to make it out, I really didn't," Brinkley said.

 Brinkley said the whole time she was praying and trying to talk to the teenager, who told her he wanted to die.

"When he grabbed me, he said it had nothing to do with me, that it was him," Brinkley said. "He needed help, and he wanted to end it. That he wanted the police to shoot and kill him."

Brinkley said her savior was a store manager who was able to eventually talk the boy down. She said the manger was telling the boy to let her go, and offered to take her place.

Brinkley said she never stopped praying through the entire 45 minute incident.

"Maybe I was there for a reason," Brinkley said. "Maybe I prayed hard enough that he will get what he needs. I feel for him, I pray for him. I wish he hadn't put me through that and my family through that, but, I hope he gets the help he needs. I really do."

Police said an officer was able to convince the man to drop the knife and arrest him.