A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR Louie and Patricia Ayende for their courageous and speedy assistance to their neighbor when they saw her being kidnapped, which enabled law enforcement to rescue her quickly.

 

Whereas, in March of 2025, a California resident out on bond for attempted murder in California, forced his way into the home of Delores Johnson, an eighty-nine-year-old resident of Summerville; and

 

Whereas, the assailant sprayed her with bear mace and tied her to a chair in her kitchen. While the assailant was still inside Ms. Johnson's residence, her neighbor, Mr. Louie Ayende, arrived at the elderly victim's home to take her trashcan to the curb, as he routinely did; and

 

Whereas, when Louie knocked on the door, he noticed an unfamiliar man behaving suspiciously inside. The man claimed Ms. Johnson had been taken to the hospital, a statement Louie immediately recognized as false. Louie sprang into action, returning home to retrieve his firearm and call law enforcement; and

 

Whereas, the assailant then taped a plastic bag on Ms. Johnson's head, tied her with a dog leash, forced her into the floorboard of her vehicle, and fled the scene with her inside the car; and

 

Whereas, Louie's wife, Patricia, ran to the car, attempting to stop the vehicle and retrieve the victim as the assailant quickly reversed out of the driveway. Because of these neighbors' actions, law enforcement was alerted immediately and was able to locate the victim alive later that day. Police averred that if the victim had not been found that night, she likely would have died; and

 

Whereas, in August of 2025, the assailant, Enver Zueros, was convicted by the First Circuit Solicitor's Office in Dorchester County and sentenced to fifty years in prison, after pleading guilty to first-degree burglary and kidnapping. Ms. Johnson's survival is a direct result of neighbors who trusted their instincts and refused to look the other way; and

 

Whereas, prosecutors said the assailant had driven across the country after Ms. Johnson stopped sending him money, rented an Airbnb near her home, and waited to assault her when her caregiver was not present; and

 

Whereas, family members testified in court about the weeks of wound care, physical therapy, and the lasting fear Ms. Johnson has endured since the attack; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives values the heroic and selfless actions of neighbors in the Palmetto State, like Patricia and Louie Ayende, who appreciate the welfare of others in their community, and the members commend them for boldly coming to the aid of Ms. Johnson. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Louie and Patricia Ayende for their courageous and speedy assistance to their neighbor when they saw her being kidnapped, which enabled law enforcement to rescue her quickly.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Louie and Patricia Ayende.

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