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Amber Alert issued for Cali teen last seen bleeding, screaming for help

Posted at 5:30 PM, May 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-26 17:30:10-04

VALLEJO, Calif. – An Amber Alert was issued Thursday afternoon amid a frantic search for an abducted girl last seen bleeding and yelling for help, California authorities said.

Police have identified the victim as 15-year-old Pearl Pinson.

The incident began around 7 a.m. Wednesday when deputies responded to multiple calls of shots fired at the I-780 pedestrian over-crossing near Vallejo, which lies some 30 miles northeast of San Francisco. A witness reported seeing a girl bleeding and screaming for help as a man pulled her on the over-crossing, according to a post on the Solano County Sheriff's Office's Facebook page.

The witness reported hearing a gunshot and told deputies the man had a firearm. Blood was later found on the ground, but investigators did not locate anyone in the area, the post stated.

Pearl was soon after identified as the victim, according to KTLA.  She was reported missing after failing to arrive at school that day; the missing teen has not been seen since the incident on the over-crossing.

Authorities could not confirm whether Pearl was shot, nor did they know the extent of her injuries.

“We are very concerned," Deputy Christine Castillo told KTLA sister station KTXL in Sacramento. "Our number one priority right now is reaching out to our community, asking for their help and finding Pearl."

She is described as white, 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing approximately 130 pounds with brown hair dyed green; she was wearing a gray sweater and black leggings at the time of her disappearance, according to CHP. Pearl was also carrying a black and turquoise backpack.

The man has been identified as 19-year-old Fernando Castro, a resident of Vallejo, the Sheriff's Office said. He is described by CHP as Hispanic, standing about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 148 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt and possibly had reading-type glasses, authorities said.

The California Highway Patrol issued the alert for Solano, Yolo, Sacramento, Contra Costa, Alameda, Napa and San Joaquin counties.

Castro was driving a gold, four-door 1997 Saturn with California license plate No. 5XZD385.

Anyone who sees Pearl or Castro is encouraged to call 911 or the Solano County Sheriff's Office at 707-784-7061.

Those who wish to leave a tip anonymously can call Crime Stoppers at 707-644-7867.