New Lenox Victim Carjacked By Gunman Tuesday

NEW LENOX, IL - A 40-year-old man in New Lenox was the victim of a carjacking around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday according to the Will County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff's police responded to the 900 block of Ogden Road in New Lenox Township after the victim was hit by the open door of the car as three men drove off, heading down Woodlawn Road. The stolen car was a 2014 Kia Optima and it was later seen in the Hazel Crest area, sheriff's officials say.

Here are some of the key events that transpired prior to the carjacking, according to sheriff's police:

The victim had posted an online advertisement in hopes of selling his girlfriend's Kia. A woman contacted him. She was interested in buying it and said she would be sending a guy to the 40-year-old victim's house around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Instead, three guys showed up in a white late-model Dodge Challenger that had blue stripes on it. Two of the guys were about 20 years old, tall and thin, wearing jeans and hooded sweatshirts.

"The victim was unable to describe the third subject," the sheriff's news release stated.

Next, the New Lenox man showed them the Kia and they wanted to take it on a test drive. The victim agreed and rode in the passenger seat. One of the carjackers got in the backseat of the Kia and another got behind the wheel. They went on a test drive. They went back to the victim's house. Then, he was asked to take the men to a bank for a money wire transfer so they could buy the Kia Optima.

As they were driving near South Woodlawn and South Pine, the car jacking occurred. The driver stopped the Kia and told the 40-year-old man to empty his pockets. The man then felt a gun pressed up to the back of his head.

"The victim complied and was told to get out of the vehicle," the sheriff's department said.

As the man tried to get out of his girlfriend's Kia, he got struck by the door as his carjackers hit the gas and drove off. The victim also saw the Dodge Challenger, the vehicle the three men arrived in, speeding away from Woodlawn Road, along with the stolen Kia.

The man told sheriff's police that he was not hurt. He refused to go to the hospital.

"All police agencies were notified of the car hijacking," the sheriff's department advised.

As of noon Wednesday, the car hasn't been recovered and nobody has been arrested yet.

If you know anything about this crime in New Lenox Township, you should call the Will County Sheriff's Department at 815-727-8575.

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