Ariana, a 16-year-old girl, is still traumatized from a recent close call with a stranger who reportedly followed and attacked her. Surveillance cameras recorded the incident at a local convenience store. History comes alive in this footage which captures the tension, urgency, and stakes of her situation. Ariana’s quick decision to look for help may have saved her life. Her actions reminded us how crucial community awareness is in scary situations.
Then, on April 25, 2025, Ariana made her public debut on “Good Morning America.” She was joined by her mom, Christina Pino, to tell her terrifying story. The situation allegedly started when a much older man began approaching Ariana while brandishing a “huge bottle of liquor.” Feeling cornered, she recounted how at that point he literally “cornered her.”
I really thought he was going to murder me,” Ariana said in an interview. Most importantly, she hoped to convey to us the fear that overwhelmed her in that instant. In that brief moment, she noticed an open store across the street. She didn’t know Aunt Rachel had arrived, so she yelled out, “Aunt Rachel, is that you?” This call was her best form of defense, creating an effective distraction that helped her get away from the man’s approach.
Ariana rushed over to Tina Moss, the shop owner. Her PSA husband, Bill Moss, immediately flew to her side to help. From the moment Ariana arrived, Tina Moss embraced her and made her feel at home in the shop.
“It distracted whatever that gentleman was trying to do,” – Christina Pino
The couple moved quickly to protect Ariana’s safety. As Ariana hid safely inside the store, her perpetrator sought to wreak further havoc on the street.
“Once they arrived, he still was kicking on doors down and wouldn’t quit,” Ariana said. This first-person account illustrates the ongoing threat she encountered even after making it to what she thought was safety.
Christina Pino called Bill and Tina Moss her daughter’s “guardian angels” for standing by their daughter’s side throughout the ordeal. Their rapid response brought solace and safety at a time when Ariana needed it the most.
Ariana’s story is a sobering reality check about the hidden dangers lurking even in the most mundane activities. Her courage to ask for help is what really stands out. The community’s response holds a powerful lesson for how people can—and need to—protect one another from senseless tragedy and harm.
