BALTIMORE, Md. — Baltimore Police say three teens beat and carjacked a 78-year-old man after Easter Sunday Mass.
"It’s totally contrary to the whole concept of what Easter is supposed to be," said James DuSel, a 19-year resident of North Baltimore's Guilford community. "He just parked his car and returned from church service."
Police say the elderly man was sitting in his car, parked in front of his home on Juniper Drive, when three teenagers opened his car door, punched the man in the face, pulled him out of the car and then took off in his vehicle.
"I helped pick him up. He was lying face down right over there," said DuSel.
The Guilford community has their own security but after a mugging last year, DuSel decided to take matters in his own hands. He started keeping an eye on the area and started carrying a whistle with him, different than a coaches whistle.
"It has a very piercing sound. It can let people know there's trouble around," said DuSel.
He says he blew the whistle on Easter Sunday when he heard a commotion outside because he knew something was wrong. His wife witnessed the carjacking and called 911.
"We generally don’t have this kind of problem, but this kind of problem occurs in all neighborhoods, well off neighborhoods such as this and certainly much more in poor neighborhoods," said DuSel. "There are a lot of victims out there."
WMAR-2 News spoke with several other neighbors enjoying the warm temperatures Monday afternoon, but no one else wanted to go on camera. Everyone we spoke with was shocked the carjacking happened in their neighborhood but more so in the middle of the day on Easter Sunday. One man stated they had carjackings last summer and expect them again this summer since teenagers are out of school.
Police have not found the stolen vehicle yet and no arrests have been made.
The victim suffered a black eye and a cut on his face. His neighbor told WMAR-2 News he is at home recovering after going to the hospital.
