An 81-year-old veteran was thrown to the ground while delivering pizzas in a violent carjacking in Chicago’s Northwest Side last week.
Ernie Aimone, a longtime pizza delivery man, was crossing the street after dropping off a pizza Wednesday night in the city’s Jefferson Park neighborhood when an individual came up from behind him and clobbered him, he told ABC7.
“They said, ‘Gimme the keys, gimme the keys,’” Aimone told the local station. “And they sucker punched me from behind, hit me in the face. I was afraid for my life.”
The Vietnam War veteran was knocked to the ground by the punch and he stayed face down on the street to avoid further injury while the suspects sped off in his car, he said.
Chicago police responded to the carjacking just after 9 p.m. and put the plate number of the stolen vehicle, a 2015 Hyundai Sante Fe, into the system.
Hours later, state police spotted Aimone’s car on an expressway and tried to pull it over, but the carjacker kept driving.
The state police pursued the stolen vehicle in a chase that ended with the Hyundai crashing — and causing major damage.
Cops arrested one teen suspect but are still looking for possible accomplices.
Aimone said although he was scared to death at the moment, he plans to go back to work once he has a usable car again.
“I got a daughter and a son,” Aimone said. “I gotta live for them.”
His daughter was grateful the assault did not end in a tragedy.
“It could have been a lot worse,” Robyn Aimone told ABC7. “I don’t know what I would do without him.”
The elder Aimone has been delivering pizza for the same restaurant — Joe’s on Higgins — for the past four decades and is beloved by coworkers and customers.
“He’s like family to us,” Frank Demonte with Joe’s on Higgins told ABC7. “He’s seen me grow up from very young. He worked for my Dad.”
“Ernie’s very special to us. Always has been,” Gina Demonte, Frank’s wife who also helps with the business, said.
The community is now coming to help Aimone get a new car, as his insurance won’t cover the damage since the incident happened while he was working, according to a fundraising page set up to raise money for the veteran.
The Gladstone Park Chamber of Commerce set up a GoFundMe to help him repair his car or get a new one.
“He’s like a local legend,” president of the chamber, Dan Ciolino, said. “He’s been loyal to Joe’s 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 proudly served his country, and has been delivering to our community for years; and now it’s time for us to deliver for him!” the page states.
