Bodycam: Son and father kidnapping attempt of 5-year-old 'Jacob' in Queens

The frightening, bizarre child robbery unfolded Thursday evening, as Dolores Diaz was walking along Hillside Avenue with her three children, including 5-year-old Jacob, when a young man identified by police as James McGonagle, 24, jumped out of a nearby car. He grabbed Jacob off the sidewalk and threw the boy into his vehicle.

The family did not know McGonagle, they said.

The incident was captured on surveillance video, which showed hero mother Diaz taking her young son out of the car through the open passenger window - and an older man in an orange shirt who was with McGonagle.

Sources now say the older man is McGonagle's 55-year-old father, also named James McGonagle. It's unclear if the father knew his son would try to grab the boy.

After the frightening incident, the younger McGonagle, of Pomonok, apparently made his way to Brookdale Hospital - where he punched an innocent bystander in the face without provocation, the victim told the Post.

Police responded to the hospital after the alleged assault, and then a sharp-eyed officer recognized McGonagle from Crimestoppers video of the incident, the source said, alerting detectives.

It's unclear why McGonagle initially went to the hospital, but there he apparently spontaneously blurted out, "I tried to kidnap a child today," sources said. The statement was apparently captured on a police officer's body camera footage.

Watch the bodycam video

Video removed for a short time, Soon available again

Investigators reached out to James McGonagle's mother Cassandra, 53, who identified the pair as the two men in the attempted kidnapping.

McGonagle was admitted to the hospital's psychiatric unit early Friday, police sources said.

Police said Saturday they were searching for the older McGonagle.

The younger McGonagle was charged with attempted kidnapping, reckless endangerment and injurious manner to a child in connection with the incident, the NYPD said.