A masked woman brought a knife, duct tape, accelerant and a lighter to a Rogers Park store where she then tried to kill an employee, prosecutors said Tuesday.
The clerk was attacked minutes after she opened Clark Dollar Market, 7354 North Clark, at 8 a.m. Monday, according to police.
Prosecutors said Juana Gallegos, age 47, walked into the store with a garment over her head, a tote bag on her shoulder, and a knife hidden inside a plastic bag. She went behind the store counter with duct tape in one hand and, said, “I’m going to kill you b*tch,” according to allegations made in court.
Gallegos ordered the woman to put her hands behind her back and threatened to kill the clerk, according to police. After initially complying with the offender, the clerk tried to charge past Gallegos, police said.
As she did, Gallegos struck the victim to the ground, climbed on top of her, and lifted the bag-covered knife in an attempt to stab the woman, prosecutors alleged. The victim defended her self by grabbing the knife, which sliced her hand open. She later received seven stitches to close the wound, according to prosecutors.
The victim managed to get out of the store where a witness allegedly saw Gallegos chasing the clerk with a knife on Clark Street. Another witness reportedly told police that Gallegos eventually dumped a bag, handbag, and knife into a nearby dumpster.
An evidence technician recovered the items from the garbage and allegedly found duct tape, a lighter, and “possible accelerant” inside the tote bag as well as a knife, a prosecutor said in bond court Tuesday.
The victim told police she grew up with Gallegos in Mexico. She said Gallegos had falsely accused her of having a sexual relationship with Gallegos’ husband.
Gallegos, who has lived in Cook County for 25 years, has no previous criminal convictions, her public defender said.
Prosecutors charged Gallegos with attempted first degree murder and felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Judge Arthur Willis set bail at $30,000 and ordered Gallegos to go onto electronic monitoring if she can post the mandatory 10% deposit bond.