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Woman Stabbed In Abdomen During Cellphone Robbery, Prosecutors Say

 Left to right: Vanessa Gomez, 18, Erik Solano, 19, and Faustino Perez, 21, are charged with attempted first-degree murder. A 17-year-old boy (not pictured) was also charged.
Left to right: Vanessa Gomez, 18, Erik Solano, 19, and Faustino Perez, 21, are charged with attempted first-degree murder. A 17-year-old boy (not pictured) was also charged.
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DNAinfo; Chicago Police Department

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A 36-year-old woman was stabbed in her abdomen when four people stole her cellphone in Garfield Ridge late Saturday, prosecutors said.

The same group is accused of robbing a 15-year-old girl a block away moments earlier.

Vanessa Gomez, 18, Faustino Perez, 21, Erik Solano, 19, and a 17-year-old boy are charged with armed robbery, robbery and attempted first-degree murder.

According to prosecutors, the 36-year-old victim was walking in the 6900 block of West Archer Avenue about 10 p.m. Saturday when her attackers saw the woman using her cellphone and decided to steal it.

Gomez was driving a 2002 Dodge Caravan that belongs to a relative at the time, court records show. Perez, Solano and the juvenile male were passengers in the minivan, prosecutors said.

As the group got out of the van, the juvenile grabbed the 36-year-old woman by her neck and punched her several times, Assistant State's Attorney Erin Antonietti said during a bond hearing Monday.

Perez and Solano, meanwhile, headed up the street to act as lookouts, Antonietti said. That's when the pair spotted a 15-year-old girl walking a block away, in the 6800 block of West Archer Avenue, prosecutors said.

Perez and Solano are accused of stealing the 15-year-old girl's cellphone before running back toward the van, where the 36-year-old woman was being robbed.

When Perez arrived on the scene, prosecutors alleged, he hit the 36-year-old woman repeatedly.

During the scuffle, that victim was stabbed in her abdomen and shoulder, according to Antonietti. Prosecutors believe the juvenile was wielding the knife at the time.

The knife was later recovered inside the minivan, court records show. The 36-year-old victim was taken to Advocate Christ Masonic Medical Center, where she needed stitches and surgery to close her wounds.

Gomez and Perez appeared in bond court Monday.

According to prosecutors, Gomez, of the 2800 block of South Pulaski Road, has no prior criminal background. Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas set Gomez's bail at $750,000.

Perez, of the 3100 block of South Kedvale Avenue, has a prior conviction for driving on a suspended or revoked license. The judge set Perez's bail at $1 million.

Solano is expected to appear in court Tuesday. Juveniles are charged separately.

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