A 26-year-old man, Dimas Gabriel Yanez, who had previously been deported from the United States, was arrested after allegedly stabbing a 14-year-old girl during a baseball game in Lowell, Illinois. The young girl and her mother were at the game to see her brother play when the event happened on Saturday at around 3:45 p.m., some 100 miles west of Chicago.
With a "butcher-style knife," Yanez allegedly assaulted the girl and stabbed her in the hand. He then made an attempt to knife her mother; their identities are still unknown to the general public. Yanez left the scene of the incident and ran into some woods next to the baseball field. The knife used in the attack was subsequently discovered by authorities.
A protracted manhunt that involved several law enforcement agencies, K9 teams, and air assistance occurred. Yanez reportedly chopped off his hair during the search in an effort to disguise himself. Yanez was discovered hiding in a cornfield on Sunday afternoon, marking the end of the hunt. A short foot chase later, he was apprehended.
Yanez had already entered the country illegally. In 2018, he was deported to Honduras, but he returned there illegally. Currently, investigators are looking into any offenses Yanez may have committed after coming back to the US.
Oscar Martinez Jr., the Lake County Sheriff, verified that Yanez's arrest had been reported to the Department of Homeland Security. Sheriff Martinez thanked the law enforcement agencies who were involved in the investigation and manhunt in a public statement, highlighting their collaboration and vigilance. Additionally, he expressed gratitude to the public for giving information that helped law enforcement officials in their work.
After receiving medical attention for her wounds at a nearby hospital, the 14-year-old girl was allowed to go. The event is still under investigation.
The repercussions of the current migrant crisis in the United States have been felt throughout Illinois, especially in the Chicagoland area, at the time of this occurrence. The area has grown into a major migration center, putting further strain on the government and resources in the area.
The Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI) has attacked Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has been a key figure in the city's response to the migrant issue. According to the group, he is America's "worst sanctuary mayor," denouncing the hundreds of millions of dollars he has given to help migrants while locals are struggling financially.
Dale Wilcox, the director of IRLI, said that progressive mayors like as Johnson are part of the problem because they enact laws that promote immigration without authorization, which in turn causes congestion and a rise in criminal behavior in their local neighborhoods. Political and societal sensitivities around immigration remain strong, even though studies show that immigrants—including those who are here illegally—do not commit crimes at greater rates than native-born Americans.
As a progressive candidate, Johnson won the mayoral position last year, but he has had difficulty controlling the flood of asylum seekers. Due to the overcrowding in the city's shelters, some migrants are now spending time at Chicago O'Hare International Airport and police stations. Johnson’s attempts to secure additional funding and implement new shelters have faced backlash from local residents, who feel that the resources should be directed toward helping long-standing community members facing economic hardships.