Waukesha woman arrested after violent rampage injures 3 in Illinois

The 25-year-old suspect allegedly struck two people with her car and attacked a third with a knife in Gurnee.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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A 25-year-old woman from Waukesha, Wisconsin has been arrested after a violent rampage in Gurnee, Illinois that left three people injured. Police say the woman drove through a parking lot, hitting a 79-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman with her vehicle. She then fled to another parking lot where she attacked a man sitting in his car with a butcher knife. The victim was able to disarm the woman and held her until police arrived. Officers used a taser to take her into custody.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the dangers of random acts of violence and the need for improved mental health resources and crisis intervention. The victims appear to have been targeted at random, raising concerns about public safety in the area.

The details

According to police, the 25-year-old woman from Waukesha first struck a 79-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman with her vehicle in a parking lot. She then fled to another lot where she attacked a man sitting in his car with a butcher knife. The victim was able to disarm the woman and hold her until police arrived, who then used a taser to take her into custody.

  • The incident occurred on Tuesday morning.

The players

25-year-old Waukesha woman

The suspect who allegedly carried out the violent rampage.

79-year-old man

One of the victims struck by the suspect's vehicle, sustaining serious injuries.

60-year-old woman

Another victim struck by the suspect's vehicle, suffering less serious injuries.

Male victim in car

The victim who was attacked by the suspect with a butcher knife, but was able to disarm her.

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What’s next

The suspect is currently in custody and the investigation is ongoing. Police are working to determine a motive for the attacks.

The takeaway

This violent incident underscores the need for improved mental health resources and crisis intervention to prevent such random acts of violence and protect public safety. The community will be closely watching how the justice system handles this case.