A Golden Valley woman in her 80s was injured during an attempted carjacking at her home Tuesday, June 13, 2023. The incident occurred in the 6400 block of Westchester Circle.
According to Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green, the woman was outside watering her lawn around noon when she noticed five Black males stop in front of her home. When she attempted to close her garage door, the suspects prevented her from doing so, demanded her car keys, and pushed her to the ground. When she began to scream, the suspects fled the area without the car. The victim suffered a broken arm during the incident.
“You hear about these things happening in other cities, not in Golden Valley,” says Green. “The shameless act of violence is very sick and disturbing to me. We're working with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office to develop leads, and we’re going to find these suspects.”
“I know our citizens are concerned and frustrated, and I want them to know their safety is a top priority,” adds Green. “This incident wasn’t because we have a patrol staffing issue. We are taking every step to make sure our city is safe. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office has been a great partner in assisting Golden Valley as we work to hire and train new police officers.”
Hennepin County’s investigation discovered the five suspects, who all appear to be juveniles, were in a stolen car that was later recovered in St Paul days later, says Green.
“We will be increasing patrols, and we will be meeting with neighborhood associations and their block captains to address any concerns they may have,” says Green. “We encourage our residents to be mindful of their surroundings, and if they see any suspicious persons, please call 911 and try to provide as much information as you can while being safe.”