Malik Youngblood was honored during a school assembly today at J-E Robins Elementary in Charleston.

Malik never thought quick action on his part would make him a hero.

"This is an example of courage," says Mark Plants, Kanawha County Prosecutor.

As students at J.E. Robins Elementary and two police officers looked on, Plants presented the fourth grader with a badge proclaiming him a junior police officer in Charleston.

His heroic act? He foiled a carjacking while he and his three younger brothers were still in the car.

Malik's mother had left the engine running while she ran into a convenience store on the city's West Side.

"Soon as she stepped into the door, that dude jumped in the car and tried to steal it and I yanked the keys out." says Malik Youngblood.

And he didn't give up, even when the alleged carjacker, 32-year old Jonathan Martin of Sissonville, reportedly punched the 9-year old, causing the boy to fall out of the car.

"I was thinking, what is this man doing? Is he crazy?" says Malik.

The man ran away, tripped and fell and was caught a short time later.

Plants told the children they also can be brave in their own way.

"If you think something's wrong, tell the police what you saw," says Plants.

Malik says he was a little scared at the time, but would do it again, to save his little brothers.

Jonathan Martin was charged with grand larceny and four counts of kidnapping. He's being held in the South Central Regional Jail.