A shocking incident at a busy shopping mall in Illinois has left several people injured and a Wisconsin woman in police custody. Authorities say the accused not only hit pedestrians with her car but also recorded videos bragging about avoiding police before carrying out another violent attack.
Wisconsin Woman Arrested After Mall Parking Lot Attacks
Katelyn A. Harmon, a 25-year-old woman from Wisconsin, has been arrested and is now behind bars after a series of violent incidents at a mall parking area in Illinois. She is facing multiple serious charges, including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and failure to report a crash involving injuries.
The incident took place on Monday morning in the parking lot of Gurnee Mills, a large outlet mall located near Chicago.
Car Used to Hit Two People in Parking Lot
According to the Gurnee Police Department, the first incident happened around 10:05 a.m. in the parking area of a Hobby Lobby store on West Grand Avenue.
Police say Harmon allegedly drove her 2010 Toyota Camry into a 79-year-old man who was standing near his car. She then used the same vehicle to hit a 60-year-old woman.
Both victims were seriously injured and taken to nearby hospitals:
- The 79-year-old man suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Advocate Condell Hospital.
- The 60-year-old woman suffered an ankle injury and was taken to Lake Forest Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
After the incident, the car fled the scene before officers arrived.
Police Alert Issued for Suspect Vehicle
At around 10:40 a.m., police alerted nearby law enforcement agencies to look for the damaged Toyota Camry. The car reportedly had visible windshield damage on the passenger side from hitting the victims.
However, investigators later found that Harmon had not gone far. Police say she drove about 850 feet away to another parking area behind a Panera Bread restaurant near the mall.
Facebook Posts and Video Confession
While still in the area, Harmon allegedly posted disturbing content on Facebook. Around 10:31 a.m., she uploaded photos showing damage to her car along with a message admitting she had run over people in the mall parking lot.
A few minutes later, at about 10:37 a.m., she posted a video of herself sitting inside the car holding a large kitchen knife. In the video, she mocked police and claimed they had not found her yet. She also revealed her location near the mall and challenged people to call the police.
Knife Attack in Nearby Parking Area
Shortly after posting the video, Harmon reportedly stepped out of her car and attacked a nearby parked Hyundai Tucson with a large knife. Police say she smashed the vehicle’s window and slashed one of its tyres.
When the male driver came out of the SUV, a struggle broke out. The man suffered cuts on his hands but managed to disarm and restrain Harmon until officers arrived.
Police used a Taser-like device to subdue her before taking her into custody.
Victims Were Randomly Targeted
Authorities believe the attacks were random, as there was no known connection between Harmon and any of the victims. Investigators say the violence appeared unprovoked and sudden.
During a police interview, Harmon allegedly admitted she had planned to kill someone. When asked why, she reportedly said she had “gone rogue.” She also told officers she needed help and suggested she might repeat such actions.
Charges and Court Appearance
Harmon now faces multiple serious charges, including:
- Two counts of attempted first-degree murder
- Failure to report a crash involving injury
- Aggravated battery causing serious harm
- Four counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon
She appeared before a judge for an initial hearing and remains in custody. Her next court appearance is scheduled for February 26.
