An 18-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly carjacked a woman at knifepoint in North Chicago and tried to stab her, prosecutors said.
Alijah A. Hawkins, 18, was charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking with a weapon, a Class X felony, and vehicular hijacking, a Class 1 felony.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Lillian Lewis said the North Chicago Police Department investigated a carjacking that occurred on July 21.
The victim was in her car, a Mercedes four-door sedan, in the 1000 block of Park Avenue in North Chicago.
Hawkins allegedly approached the Mercedes and knocked on the window of the car.
Hawkins told the woman to give him her car keys and then displayed a six-inch knife, Lewis said during a Thursday bond hearing.
The victim got out of the car and tried taking her house key off the keychain but Hawkins began thrusting the knife at the woman approximately three times, trying to stab her, Lewis said.
The woman tried getting away but Hawkins forcefully took the keys from the woman.
Hawkins got into the Mercedes and drove away from the area.
Officers located a video of the incident and a description of Hawkins was determined.
On Wednesday, the victim and her husband located the car near Grand Avenue and Jackson Street in Waukegan, Lewis said.
The two followed the car to a GameStop in Waukegan and called 911.
They saw Hawkins, who was the sole occupant, get out of the driver’s seat.
Lewis said the victim recognized the driver as the suspect who carjacked her.
Officers arrested Hawkins and during an interview, he identified himself in a surveillance photo from the scene of the carjacking.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Hawkins held on a $350,000 bond.
Hawkins remains held in the Lake County Jail and would need to post $35,000 cash in order to be released.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 24.