Police said the suspects -- two men and a woman -- watched the elderly woman inside the Ultra Foods Store at 7520 Roosevelt Road on February 11 and then followed her to the parking lot. They jumped her, police said, as the woman was loading her items in her car around 6 p.m.
When the woman refused to give up her purse, one of the men dragged her, knocking her down, and then kicked her several times in the head. Police said they think she was targeted because she was elderly, alone and had parked far from the store.
"It was obvious they had no intention of shopping and didn't purchase food and pushed an empty shopping cart through the store obviously stalking the victim," said Chief Jim Ryan, Forest Park police.
The victim was seriously injured in her left eye, face and arm. She suffered a skull fracture, underwent surgery for a broken eye socket and will also need extensive dental reconstruction.
"It is very disturbing and obviously we don't condone any type of crime, but the violence was extreme and obviously unwarrant and unnecessary to take an elderly woman and knock her to the ground and beat her in the head," siad Chief Ryan.
Police said a 39-year-old Oak Park man came to her aid and chased the suspects away. "He came to the scene and the beating could have been considerably worse if he hadn't come to her aid," said Chief Ryan.
Police released photos from a store surveillance camera. They are looking for all three suspects. One of the male suspects is described as African American, 40 to 50 years, wearing a wool cap, black leather jacket, blue jeans and black boots. They left the area in a silver Crown Victoria or Mercury Marquis with possible damage to the passenger's door.
They got away with nothing, officials said.
Anyone with information should call the Forest Park Police Department at 708-366-2425.
