Man was kidnapped in his own car and forced to drive around hunting for cash. Then a Walmart worker read his silent message — and acted fast
Standing in front of the Walmart counter, the man saw this as his only opportunity to signal for help.
Trigger Warning: The following story contains themes of violence and mentions firearms.
Staying calm and thinking on your feet can sometimes be the only difference between life and death. Just ask this man who recently found himself held at gunpoint in San Antonio. What began as a routine stop at a Shell station turned into a terrifying ordeal when Jose Garza Valencia and Levi Wayne Smith forced their way into his car. The two armed men ordered him to drive to four different locations looking for cash. Trapped with his captors watching his every move, the man stayed cool and quietly typed out a plea for help on his phone. He flashed the screen to a Walmart worker. What unfolded next was a swift rescue, as reported by Fox SA on September 3, 2026.
Give us money
The encounter started when the man pulled up to a Shell gas station on the 3500 block of Southeast Military Drive on August 23. It was there that Valencia and Smith walked up to him and asked for cash. The man refused and proceeded to head inside the shop. However, when he walked back out, both men trailed him to his car. Valencia then pulled out a handgun and climbed into the backseat, while Smith sat in the front passenger seat. The pair then ordered the man to drive to a place where they could get some cash.
Four stops with no way out
Terrified for his safety, the man had no other option but to comply with them. Valencia and Smith then forced him to make several stops across town while they searched for cash. During these stops, the two men stayed right beside him and kept him in sight at all times. Along the way, Smith claimed that he had a handgun as well, though the driver later revealed that he never spotted a weapon on him. Interestingly, he also told law enforcement that Valencia forced him to buy a Coca-Cola when they stopped at Southeast Side H-E-B.
One message at a Walmart counter
The duo eventually directed this man to a Walmart on the 3300 block of Southeast Military Drive. They then brought him up to the customer service desk to pull out cash. Standing in front of the counter, the man saw this as his only opportunity to signal for help without alerting the man beside him. So, he quickly opened his phone and showed a worker a written message asking for help. Thankfully, the employee was able to understand it and immediately notified a supervisor, who then called law enforcement.
Gun violence reaches far beyond shootings
It's no secret that incidents like these make gun violence a significant issue throughout the United States. According to Every Town Research, every year roughly 46,684 people lose their lives because of guns. Additionally, a striking 59% of adults have already experienced or know someone who has experienced gun violence.
Surveillance gave cops two names
When the suspects realized employees had called for help, police say they fled the store. However, when officers arrived at the scene, they were able to recognize both of them through their previous interactions. Detectives then examined the Walmart security footage and matched the images directly to Bexar County booking photos to confirm their identities. Both of them were subsequently arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon. Their bonds were set at a combined total of $200,000.
If you or anyone you know is prone to possible harm from a firearm, please call 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867) or 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477) to submit an anonymous tip to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF Hotlines).
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