Bond Denied - Hijackers Armed with Knife Take Car With Children in Back Seat

Luis Gomez-Garcia, 28 (d.o.b. 2/15/1993) of the 900 block of W. Irving Park Road, Bensenville, and Christopher Krieg, 32 (d.o.b. 10/28/1988) of the 600 block of E. Gunderson Road, Carol Stream.

“THE EXTREME LEVEL OF VIOLENCE ALLEGED AGAINST THE TWO DEFENDANTS IN THIS CASE IS UNCONSCIONABLE,” BERLIN SAID.

VILLA PARK - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police Michael Rivas announced today that bond has been denied for two men accused of hijacking a woman’s car at knifepoint from a Villa Park parking lot while her two children were in the back seat. Luis Gomez-Garcia, 28 (d.o.b. 2/15/1993) of the 900 block of W. Irving Park Road, Bensenville, and Christopher Krieg, 32 (d.o.b. 10/28/1988) of the 600 block of E. Gunderson Road, Carol Stream, each appeared in Bond Court this morning where Judge Jeffrey MacKay denied bond for both men. Both men have been charged with one count of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking (Class X Felony) three counts of Aggravated Kidnapping (Class X Felony) and three counts of Aggravated Unlawful Restraint (Class 3 Felony).

On October 8, 2021, officers with the Villa Park Police Department responded to a call of an aggravated carjacking that just occurred in the parking lot of a shopping mall located at 270 W. North Avenue in Villa Park. The investigation found that at approximately 4:48 p.m., the victim and her children, ages ten and five, exited the mall and entered her vehicle. It is alleged that approximately one minute later, as the victim sat in the driver’s seat with the window down, Gomez-Garcia approached the vehicle, put a knife with a 3½” blade to the woman’s throat and told the victim to move over to the front passenger seat. It is alleged that as the victim moved over, Krieg entered the rear passenger area of the vehicle with the victim’s children. It is further alleged that Gomez-Garcia ordered the victim to give him her property, which she did including her iPhone 11, Apple Watch and wallet. It is alleged that Gomez-Garcia told the victim to drive to her house but the victim drove to a different location where she and her children were released from the vehicle. It is further alleged that Gomez-Garcia told the victim not to contact the police and that he held the knife in his right hand the entire time. It is further alleged that Gomez-Garcia and Krieg then fled in the victim’s vehicle. An investigation conducted by the Villa Park Police with assistance from the Chicago Police Department led authorities to the 2900 block of W. Harrison in Chicago. At approximately 7:21 p.m., officers with the Chicago Police Department located the victim’s vehicle at that address and allegedly found Krieg in the stolen vehicle and Gomez-Garcia approximately ten feet away. Both men, who were armed with a knife, were taken into custody at this time.

“The extreme level of violence alleged against the two defendants in this case is unconscionable,” Berlin said. “I can’t begin to imagine the fear and terror this woman must have felt not only for herself, but also for her two young children. This type of brazen behavior, allegedly in the middle of the afternoon in the parking lot of a busy shopping mall, will not be tolerated in DuPage County and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Thankfully neither the woman nor her children were physically harmed during this alleged incident. I would like to thank the Villa Park Police Department for their outstanding work as well as the Chicago Police Department for their invaluable assistance in identifying and apprehending the defendants in this case. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Kevin Laude, Kelly McKay and Helen Kapas for their work in preparing a strong case against these two defendants.”

“On October 8, 2021, a mother and her two young children lost their innocence to two alleged carjackers and kidnappers,” Rivas said. “The pain and suffering felt by victims is what motivates us in the law enforcement community to work tirelessly to bring violent offenders to justice. The Villa Park Police Department is blessed to have officers and detectives who acted swiftly and effectively to bring this horrific crime to a conclusion. We would like to acknowledge the heroic efforts of the Chicago Police Department, particularly Sergeant Sellers, Sergeant Wolf and the Chicago Hijacking Task Force for taking these subjects into custody. Without the assistance of the Chicago Police Department, this arrest might not have taken place. Their efforts were outstanding and require further mention. We would also like to thank DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and Assistant State’s Attorneys Kelly McKay and Helen Kapas for helping our department develop and approve these serious charges.”

The next court appearance for both men is scheduled for November 8, 2021, for arraignment in front of Judge Mike Reidy.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendants’ guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

###