Indictment handed down against man accused of carjacking elderly man

PEORIA (25 News Now) - A Peoria man has been indicted on charges he allegedly carjacked an elderly man leaving OSF Saint Francis Medical Center last month.

20-year-old Gabriel Messenger was indicted Tuesday on one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking.

Back in December, police said Messenger was identified after he allegedly approached the man while he was removing snow from the windshield of his vehicle.

After a brief struggle, Messenger got into the victim’s vehicle and sped away, leaving the man with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police say officers in another jurisdiction were able to locate the vehicle and locate and take Messenger into custody.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.