An Otterbein resident was the target of a violent attempted carjacking by a group of juveniles, resulting in a fractured jaw for the victim. The incident happened as the woman was getting out of her car.
“I think they figured I would be an easy, you know, to try to get my keys and take my car basically,” the victim said.
She described the encounter, saying, “They looked right into my car, I looked right at them. Thought it was suspicious.”
The situation escalated when one of the juveniles demanded her keys.
“One came out asked for my keys, I refused. Since I was basically home, I figured I could get away pretty quickly. Um, when I refused, she turned and hit me right in my jaw,” she said.
Police apprehended the 17-year-old suspect and initially released him on an ankle monitor. However, the state’s attorney’s office has prosecuted the 17-year-old suspect as an adult for attempted carjacking, assault, and theft.
“They hit multiple times in my jaw. So fractured, hairline fracture on my jaw. Multiple times on the back of my head,” the victim recounted. “One of them grabbed me, they’re all trying to grab whatever they could out of my pockets.”
In a statement, the City State’s Attorney’s Office said, “We are aware of the incident that occurred earlier this month, where it appears a group of juveniles stalked and violently assaulted a resident in an apparent carjacking attempt, resulting in her sustaining a fractured jaw. Our focus is on supporting the victim through her recovery journey while also standing firm in our commitment to hold her assailants accountable.”
According to a source close to the inquiry, the young suspect has a long history with police.
The victim expressed frustration over the initial release of the suspect, stating, “When you’re repeat robbery and when you injure someone that heinously, it’s you know, I don’t really understand why they would let them go or why there isn’t more stricter laws against that.”
A judge will decide whether the case continues in adult court.
Meanwhile, the victim’s inability to positively identify the other children involved led to their jailing and eventual release. The prosecution did not charge them.
