Teen Killed Uber Driver With Stolen Walmart Machete: Indictment

SKOKIE, IL — A teenage girl accused of killing an Uber driver in Lincolnwood last month with a stolen Walmart machete was indicted. Eliza Wasni, 16, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of Grant Nelson, 34. She appeared in court in Skokie Wednesday.

Wasni hired two other Uber drivers in the early morning hours of May 30 before hacking Nelson to death with a knife and machete a few minutes after getting into his car outside a Skokie Walmart, according to prosecutors. (Sign up for our free daily newsletters and breaking news alerts for the Skokie Patch.)

Wasni's first ride, from an undisclosed location to the Des Plaines train station, was recorded at 1:25 a.m., prosecutors said. A second ride was requested at 2:18 a.m. from the train station to the Skokie Walmart, 3626 Touhy Ave.

At that point, she walked into the Walmart, took a knife and a machete from the shelves, unwrapped them and walked out the door, according to the criminal complaint. There is no indication any Walmart employee attempted to stop Wasni, and there is no record of any immediate call to police.

Then, Wasni allegedly hailed her third and final ride of the night, as Grant Nelson picked up the final fare of his life.

At 2:36 a.m., prosecutors said Wasni used the Uber app to hail a ride with the Wilmette resident and New Trier High School graduate.

According to his family, he had just headed out to drive for the San Francisco-based company after finishing a family Memorial Day meal earlier that night.

Uber's terms of service forbid minors from using the ride-hailing service, although Wasni was allegedly using an account associated with her name.

Nelson was only able to drive a few blocks before Wasni began cutting him from behind in what prosecutors said was a completely unprovoked attack. He was able to flee from his still running car and run to a nearby residential building and began banging on the door screaming for help.

Before Nelson was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he died later that morning, he told police his passenger had stabbed him and gave them a description of Wasni, prosecutors said.

Police and prosecutors said Wasni tried to steal Nelson's car and escape, but she crashed into a median almost immediately and fled on foot. She allegedly took off a blood-stained Chicago Cubs shirt and discarded it before being found nearby by responding officers.

Police said they discovered Wasni crouched behind a building wearing only a bra and leggings and holding two bloody blades. She did not respond to commands and only dropped the weapons after being tased, according to police.

Prosecutors Wednesday asked for access to Wasni's cell phone and a swab of her DNA, saying they would seek a court order if she denied their request, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Wasni was a student at Taft High School in Chicago and lived with a single mother before her arrest, her public defender said at her bond hearing. She is being tried as an adult, as are all juvenile defendants charged with first-degree murder.

Wasni is currently being held at a juvenile detention facility, according to the Chicago Tribune. She appeared in court in Cook County inmate clothes and wore her hair in braids.

A spokesperson for Walmart told the Tribune that regular company procedures were followed. An internal report was filed by employees, which was processed by "asset protection staff" when they arrived for work later that morning.

Members of the Nelson family attended Wednesday's hearing but declined comment, referring questions to a civil attorney for the family, the Tribune reported.

Nelson was remembered as a lover of animals and music at a memorial service in Skokie earlier this month. Friends said he could identify a piece of classical music in just a few notes and showed remarkable compassion for animals.

» Read more: 16-Year-Old Girl Killed Wilmette Uber Driver in 'Random Act Of Violence,' Judge Says

Top photo: Eliza Wasni booking photograph | Lincolnwood PD