Cedar Rapids woman says two people attacked husband at gas station

A father fought back to protect his daughter during what appeared to be an attempted carjacking in northeast Cedar Rapids Sunday.

Beth DeBoom says two men attacked her husband at the BP gas station, 2824 First Ave. NE, around 2 p.m. Sunday.

"He's tough," DeBoom said. "He stood up for himself and my daughter."

The mother of two says husband, Tom, stopped at the gas station with daughter Frankie in the back seat. The two were on their way to a neighbor's house for a birthday party. DeBoom said that's when two men walked up to her husband.

“One of the guys said we're going to pump your gas, and you're going to give us your money,” she said.

Beth DeBoom says her husband told both men to leave, just before one of the attackers swung at him.  Tom DeBoom called out to the gas station clerk for help, DeBoom said, as one of the men reached for the car door, with Frankie still inside.

"He said get the hell away from that car right now, get the hell away from that car my daughter is in that car.”

DeBoom says both men ran from the gas station knowing someone inside the store called police, but the fear of what could have happened lingers with this mother of two.

"What if they had gotten in the car, not knowing she was in there, and taken off with her?" DeBoom said.

The manager of the gas station says there are no surveillance cameras near the gas pumps, but declined further comment.  Police received the report on Tuesday and are now investigating.

What did DeBoom think of her husband's decision to fight back?

"You never know if that's the right thing to do,” she said, “but I know it's what my husband would do."