Cops: Robbery motive behind Schaumburg hammer attack

A 15-year-old girl accused of putting her Schaumburg neighbor in a coma by attacking him with a hammer in March is currently in the care of Streamwood Behavioral Health Center where she is awaiting evaluation by an expert from the West Coast on Aug. 3.

Assistant State's Attorney Adrienne Lund said her office is still preparing a motion to charge the girl as an adult, but expects a lengthy procedure before that can occur.

Also still awaited are further records on the girl from when she and her family lived in Wisconsin and Nevada, Assistant Public Defender Jerome Barrido said.

The girl, whose family has since moved out of the apartment building on the 100 block of Pickwick Drive in Schaumburg where the attack occurred, is charged as a juvenile with attempted murder, armed robbery and aggravated battery. Her next court date is Sept. 7.

Police believe robbery was the motive for the attack, which appeared to have occurred as the victim collected his mail in the building foyer after an evening shift at an Elgin gas station.

The girl's 18-year-old sister, Latifa Johnson, is facing a charge of obstruction of justice in adult court. Though investigators believe she played no part in the attack, they've accused her of trying to cover up the crime by cleaning up blood from the scene before police and paramedics arrived. Her next court date is Aug. 12.

The victim, 58-year-old Rajesh Thakkar, is still in physical therapy a few times a week trying to restore abilities that were impaired by the attack, his family said.

He still speaks only sparingly and can walk for just short distances. He has lost vision in his right eye, but it's unknown whether that's permanent.

Thakkar underwent surgeries to his brain and eye and remained at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge for nearly two months before his release on May 28. He and his wife Gita have also since relocated from the apartment building where the attack occurred.