MEMPHIS, Tenn. — An East Memphis woman is still reeling a day after a 14-year-old in her care was kidnapped during a carjacking and held at gunpoint for ransom.

The woman, who is the guardian of the teen, didn’t want to be identified. She said she thought her nephew was joking when he woke her up before dawn Saturday and told her he and the 14-year-old had been carjacked at a nearby gas station.

“He told me they took him in your car. I told him to go to bed,” she said. “I went outside and asked where the car was, and he said they took him in the car.”

She said her 25-year-old nephew and the 14-year-old, whom she considers a son, drove to the Valero in the 800 block of Highland in her silver Honda at around 4:30 a.m. She said three guys at the gas station tried to sell them some drugs, and when they said no, they robbed them and took the Honda.

Police said the nephew was thrown out of the car near Greer and Carnes. His Aunt said the carjackers still had her nephew’s cell phone, and she kept calling it until someone called her back.

At one point, the alleged kidnappers showed her nephew on camera with an AR-style weapon to his head and threatened to kill him if she didn’t pay them $1,000.

“It sounded like he said I put a wrench to your son’s head. I said you put a wrench to his head? He said no, a switch. Do you know what that means? They really thought they were going to get that money.”

She said police were staked out at her house as officers searched for her son. About three hours later, officers spotted her car on the 700 block of Tillman and rescued the teen.

“I saw everyone running, and that’s when I really got nervous,” she said. “I was about to pass out because I thought something happened to happened to him.”

Cordarious Johnson, 20, was taken into custody, and police said they also located an AR-15-style firearm nearby. Two other suspects managed to get away.

Johnson is now facing charges of especially aggravated kidnapping, carjacking, aggravated robbery, and assault against a law enforcement officer.

The 14-year-old said he’s been having nightmares. His guardian said she had been watching the teen like a hawk.

“I already have anxiety, and I chewed my lip that whole night, and I was so worried,” she said.

Johnson is being held on a $300,00 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.