Mom: Son arrested isn't connected to string of Oak Lawn attacks

Police arrested two men on Sunday for a violent attack near Oak Lawn, but there’s a growing fear that the suspects aren’t connected to any of the string of attacks in the neighborhood.

Police say they are looking to see if Deon Fridia and his friend Donedwin Maxie were involved in any of the violent crimes in the mostly LGBT community. There have been 13 attacks since September, causing fear and concern for people who live and patronize businesses in the area.

But Kimberly Lowe, the mom of suspect Deon, said her son can’t be the suspect for the string of other attacks.

“He couldn't possibly have done all of the crimes because he was incarcerated for like 45 days and he just got out like 3 weeks ago,” Lowe said.

According to court documents, Maxie was the one who first pulled a gun on the woman Sunday morning in a parking garage near the Oak Lawn area stating, "Give me your goodies".

After a struggle "he pistol whipped her to the left side of her head." Then "the suspect cocked the handgun and placed it to her head, staying, "I will kill you. Give me your stuff or I will kill you."

The victim told police Fridia also pointed a gun at her demanding her purse.

The two took off in her car, tried to use her credit card at an Illinois Ave. 7-Eleven. A short time later, police spotted the vehicle at another 7-Eleven on Maple Ave. where they pulled it over and made the arrests. 

“I'm a true believer if you do the crime you need to pay the time but I don't feel he should be charged with things that he did not do,” Lowe said.