An elderly man who has delivered pizzas in Chicago for 40 years was punched in the face and robbed before his car was stolen in a brazen robbery on the city’s northwest side.
Ernie Aimone, 81, explained how the sudden attack occurred after making a delivery in the Jefferson Park neighborhood.
A man approached from behind before hitting Aimone in the head, causing him to fall to the ground.
The attacker demanded her car keys and then punched Aimone in the face, making her fear for her life.
An 81-year-old pizza delivery driver, Ernie Aimone, was robbed and kidnapped on Chicago’s northwest side.
Ernie Aimone was attacked while crossing the street after making a delivery, punched in the face, and had his car stolen. He reenacted the attack for television cameras.
State police later found his car, a 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe, but it had suffered significant damage after being involved in an accident.
Aimone, a retired Army veteran sergeant who fought in Vietnam, decided not to resist and remained on the ground as the attackers fled in their car.
“They said, ‘give me the keys, give me the keys,'” Aimone told ABC7 And they punched me from behind, they hit me in the face. I feared for my life.’
Chicago police confirmed that the incident occurred around 9 pm Wednesday on North Ludlam Avenue.
State police later found his car, a 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe, but it had suffered significant damage after being involved in an accident.
A teenage suspect has been arrested, while the others remain at large.
Aimone has been a dedicated pizza delivery driver for Joe’s in Higgins for four decades and is said to be loved by his co-workers and customers alike.
“They said, ‘give me the keys, give me the keys,'” Aimone, who fought in Vietnam, told ABC7. “And they punched me from behind, they hit me in the face.” I was afraid for my life’
Aimone, a loyal Joe’s Pizza employee for 40 years, plans to return to work once he gets another car; GoFundMe has helped pay for his new vehicle. He is pictured alongside Dan Ciolino with the Gladstone Park Chamber of Commerce, far left, Frank and Gina Demonte of the restaurant and Aimone’s daughter Robyn.
It was a complete disaster and the car insurance company refuses to pay for a new one.
Police found Aimone’s car the same night of the attack, but it was damaged.
Ernie Aimone, 81, has worked at Joes for four decades and is a popular member of the community.
“It’s like family to us,” said Frank Demonte of Joe’s. ‘He has seen me grow from a very young age. ‘He worked for my dad.’
‘Ernie is very special to us. He always has been,” Frank’s wife Gina added.
Despite the traumatic event, Aimone vows to return to work making deliveries as soon as she can get another car.
“I have a daughter and a son,” Ernie said. “I have to live for them.”
Your insurance company refuses to pay for a new car because it was stolen while you were working.
TO GoFundMe created in response to the incident by the Gladstone Park Chamber of Commerce has so far raised nearly $27,000 toward the purchase of a new vehicle, including a $1,000 donation from the pizzeria itself.
“He’s like a local legend,” said the Chamber’s Dan Ciolino. ‘He has been loyal to Joe’s for 40 years. He served our country. “He deserves our support in this time of need.”