Prosecutors say a woman stabbed another woman at the Walmart in Waukegan after she had recently been harassing the victim over a former boyfriend.
Lizette A. Berrios, 30, of Waukegan, was charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Nicholas Shepherd said Berrios and a female victim are childhood acquaintances with mutual friends.
Berrios had recently been harassing the victim because she used to date Berrios’ boyfriend, Shepherd said.
Berrios’ cousin was hanging out with the victim and asked her if she wanted to fight Berrios.
The victim declined and said she had no reason to, Shepherd said. Berrios’ cousin then went with the victim shopping at Walmart in Waukegan on September 13.
Shepherd said Berrios showed up in the parking lot of the store and approached the victim’s car while the woman was inside.
Berrios began fighting the victim and also began “messing” with the victim’s tire valves, Shepherd said.
Shepherd said the victim chased Berrios away and was stabbed with an object in her torso before trying to drive away.
Berrios’ cousin removed the keys from the victim’s car and the victim could be seen holding her side, Shepherd said.
She was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville for treatment of a “significant gouge” stab wound. She received stitches and identified Berrios as the suspect.
Shepherd said blood was found in the victim’s car and her wheels had been deflated.
“This defendant’s actions were clearly premeditated. It wasn’t a coincidence that [the victim] was asked if she wanted to fight the defendant. It wasn’t a coincidence that this defendant appeared at Walmart and it is definitely not a coincidence the defendant came with a bladed object,” Shepherd said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Berrios, who was charged earlier this month, pending trial, calling her a real and present danger to the community.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition during a detention hearing this month and remanded Berrios to the Lake County Jail.
Berrios is scheduled to appear in court again on October 29 for a preliminary hearing.