A Waukegan man was arrested Tuesday in the stabbing a 70-year-old man in a random attack at a McDonald’s on Friday in which, according to authorities, the suspect said he carried out because he felt like “stabbing somebody.”
Luis Medina, 23, was arrested by Waukegan police and jailed in lieu of $1 million bail on charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery with a weapon and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, according to police and prosecutors.
The victim, who was attacked while waiting in line at the McDonald’s in the 300 block of North Sheridan Road at noon Friday, remained hospitalized Tuesday, according to Cynthia Vargas, a spokeswoman for the Lake County state’s attorney’s office.
Assistant State’s Attorney Tyler Dyson told Judge James Simonian in Bond Court on Tuesday that Medina attempted to stab the man seven times, stabbing him twice in the stomach and once in each leg.
Police said numerous witnesses saw a masked man enter the restaurant and stab the victim.
Dyson said in court that after Medina was arrested, he told investigators that he attacked the victim because he felt like “stabbing somebody.”
Because of the circumstances of the alleged crime, Dyson requested that a $1 million cash bail be set for Medina, and Simonian complied.
Witnesses gave police a description of the clothes the man was wearing, including a hat and mask.
Medina was spotted by Waukegan officers Tuesday wearing the same outfit and black mask described by witnesses and shown in surveillance cameras, according to a Waukegan police news release.
He was arrested at 11 a.m.
Authorities said the knife used in the attack was recovered at the restaurant.
Waukegan police and state’s attorney’s officials said there is no indication Medina knew the victim.
Simonian set a March 1 preliminary court appearance for Medina.