A Vicksburg man was found not guilty of attempted kidnapping after a two-day trial Wednesday in Warren County Circuit Court.

Warren County District Attorney Ricky Smith said the 12-member jury deliberated for two hours before returning its verdict in favor of Derrick McGee, 21.

“My assistants, who prosecuted the case, were surprised, and I was surprised myself,” Smith said.

McGee was accused of attempting to kidnap a woman who was walking near the corner of Washington and Main streets.

According to police reports, McGee used a handgun and demanded the woman get in the bushes.

When a motorist passed by the area, the woman began to scream and wave her arms. The driver stopped the vehicle and told the woman to get in the car, but she refused and asked the driver to instead follow the man who was fleeing on foot.

The driver then followed the man to Monroe Street where his vehicle was parked, and called 911 as she drove, directing law enforcement of the vehicle’s direction.

McGree was taken into custody in a parking lot on the corner of Mission 66 and Clay Street.

“I don’t know what was in the jury’s mind,” Smith said. “We couldn’t have better evidence than what we had. We had three eyewitnesses to the crime, we had the 911 call to the police, and the victim picked him out of a lineup.”