Driver in Woodfield Incident Charged With Terrorism

COOK COUNTY, IL — A 22-year-old Palatine man accused of driving his car through Woodfield mall has been charged with terrorism, authorities said. Javier Garcia, of the 1300 block of N. Geneva, was released from a behavioral health facility and was taken into police custody in connection with the Sept. 20 incident at Woodfield.

Garcia has since been charged with five counts of terrorism as well as a criminal damage to property charge.

A police investigation revealed Garcia was acting alone and a motive has not been determined, according to a Sunday news release from Schaumburg police. Police have no reason to believe Garcia was targeting any specific person or store within Sears or Woodfield Mall.

Police started fielding multiple 911 calls regarding a black SUV-style vehicle that drove through a mall entrance near Sears and Rainforest Cafe at 2:21 p.m. on Sept. 20, according to a statement from the Schamburg Police Department. The SUV then drove through the mall common area before coming to a stop in the mall center court.

Three people were taken to the hospital following the incident but were not hit by the SUV, police said.

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