Man Sought in San Ysidro Store Robbery, Kidnaping of Infant

San Diego police Saturday were seeking a man in connection with the robbery of a San Ysidro Boulevard money exchange store and the kidnaping of a store employee’s infant.

The 8-month-old boy was found Friday afternoon a block from the store by police about 45 minutes after the robbery. The baby was not hurt.

Police spokesman Bill Robinson said the man approached the employee, Khaldie Kakahi, 38, about 5:45 p.m. outside the store, 125 W. San Ysidro Blvd., and asked her to change some money for him.

Inside the store, the man pulled a .38-caliber handgun and took an undetermined amount of pesos, Robinson said.

A scuffle ensued, and the woman was struck on the head with the gun after she bit the robber, police said.

The woman managed to escape but inadvertently locked the robber in the store with her infant, Robinson said. She called police from a liquor store across the street.

The gunman, described by police as a Latino about 23 years old, 5-foot-9, thin and wearing a striped shirt, fired several rounds through the door and got away with the baby.

The infant was found outside 141 1/2 Blanche St., Robinson said.

Kakahi was released after treatment at Scripps Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.