An 81-year-old military veteran was thrown to the ground while delivering pizza during a violent carjacking on Chicago’s Northwest Side last week.
Ernie Aimone, a longtime pizza delivery man, was crossing the street Wednesday night after delivering a pizza in the city’s Jefferson Park neighborhood when someone approached him from behind and grabbed his belongings. He said he pushed her away. told ABC7.
“They said, ‘Give me the keys, give me the keys,'” Aimone told a local broadcaster. “Then they hit me from behind and punched me in the face. My life was in danger.”
He said the Vietnam War veteran was punched to the ground and lay face down in the road to avoid further injury while the suspects drove away.
Chicago police responded to the carjacking just after 9 p.m. and entered the stolen vehicle’s license plate into the system, a 2015 Hyundai Sante Fe.
A few hours later, state police spotted Aimone’s car on the highway and tried to stop it, but the carjacker continued driving.
State police pursued the stolen vehicle, which resulted in a Hyundai crashing, causing significant damage.
Police have arrested one teenage suspect, but are still investigating possible accomplices.
Aimone said she’s scared to death right now, but plans to go back to work once she has a working car again.
“I have a daughter and a son,” Aimone said. “I have to live for them.”
His daughter was thankful the assault did not end in tragedy.
“It could have been much worse,” Robin Aimone told ABC7. “I don’t know what I would do without him.”
The elder Aimone has been delivering pizza to the same restaurant, Joe’s on Higgins, for the past 40 years and is beloved by co-workers and customers.
“He’s like family to us,” Frank Demonte of Jaws on Higgins told ABC7. “He has watched me grow up since I was little. He worked for my father.”
“Ernie is very special to us, and always has been,” said Frank’s wife, Gina DeMonte, who also helps with the business.
According to a fundraising page set up to raise money for veterans, the community is now helping Aymone buy a new car because his accident occurred while on duty and insurance won’t cover his damages. He says he is coming for this purpose.
The Gladstone Park Chamber of Commerce has set up a GoFundMe to help repair his car and buy a new one.
“He’s something of a local legend,” said chamber president Dan Ciolino. “He was loyal to the Joes for 40 years. He served our country. He deserves our support in his time of need.”
As of Sunday, the page had raised more than $38,400 from 913 donations.
“Ernie has proudly served his country and contributed to our community for years. And now it’s our time to deliver for him!” the page reads. I am.
