A 73-year-old grandmother was killed during a horrific carjacking in New Orleans, when her arm was severed off after she remained tangled in the driver's side seatbelt as the attackers drove off, authorities said.
Four teenagers have been arrested in connection with the carjacking that killed Linda Frickey in Mid-City on Monday, March 21, the New Orleans Police Department wrote in a news release on Tuesday.
The accused killers have been identified as 17-year-old John Honore and three 15-year-old girls: Briniyah Baker, Marquel Curtis and Lenyra Theophile.
One of the girls and Honore were turned in to police by their parents after surveillance images of the suspects were circulated by news media Monday afternoon, authorities said.
"This was an incredibly difficult decision, on the behalf of these parents, and I want to commend them for doing the right thing," NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said in a press conference on Tuesday.
"It's very painful to turn in your child for something you know they were not raised to be."
The teens carjacked Frickey at about 1:30 p.m. on Monday as she was leaving her job at Security Plan Insurance in New Orleans’ Mid-City neighborhood, WWL-TV reported.
"The lady was trying to put something in her vehicle, the guy jumped in and kicked her out and she got caught in the wheel well," an eyewitness told the news station. "I heard screaming, like, 'you're about to die screaming.'"
The elderly woman was dragged for almost an entire block on North Scott Street, until her arm was detached from her body.
"Her arm was severed from her body," Ferguson said.
Nearby resident, Todd Ecker told Fox 8 that he saw the speeding car dragging the woman by the seatbelt.
"The door had closed on the seatbelt, and she was stuck in it … I got out of my vehicle screaming, ‘Please stop!’ Other neighbors were also screaming," he said.
Another neighbor, Leanne Mascar who had been walking in the area described the gruesome scene.
"She was screaming, and she was screaming to please let her go and then they slowed down and opened the door to kick her out," Mascar said.
"As soon as I saw her, I screamed. I just started running for her — I thought if I could somehow, I don’t know what I could do, but I thought if I could dislodge her from this car … when I looked down her body was already there, and her arm was … It’s just not something you expect to see," she said.
"She was laying there naked, and I thought the indignity she just suffered, it was already too much," Mascar added.
Ferguson said all four teens would be booked with second-degree murder, and that he wants them to be prosecuted in adult court, where they could face life sentences with the possibility of parole after 25 years. He added that "some of them" have been arrested before, on charges he did not specify.
"I would say absolutely I will ask they be charged as adults," Ferguson said.
"I mean, look at the nature of the crime. Brazenness. Broad daylight. No regard for this woman hanging outside the car. ... At some point, we have to hold people accountable."
The stolen vehicle was located about 13 blocks away.
"God knows these kids probably run through these justice systems time and time again. (District Attorney) Jason Williams, do your job," said Ecker.
Anyone with additional information on this incident is asked to call NOPD Homicide Unit Det. Rayell Johnson at 504-658-5300.
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