Zervont Thomas, 18, is charged with murder and attempted murder, accused of killing one man and injuring another in a stabbing inside a moving vehicle in Gurnee on Aug. 18, 2011. (Credit: Gurnee Police Department)
GURNEE, Ill. (CBS) – A Waukegan man has been charged with killing one man and injuring another in a stabbing inside a moving vehicle in north suburban Gurnee.
Zervont A. Thomas, 18, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder in the incident that ended outside a car dealership on Grand Avenue in Gurnee on Thursday. He was ordered held on $5 million bond at a hearing in Lake County court on Friday.
Thomas is accused of killing Stefan A. Metel, 33, of Round Lake, and stabbing a 17-year-old passenger in the Jeep Cherokee that all three men were riding in on Thursday.
Police said that Thomas had called Metel to ask for a ride on Thursday and, after picking up Thomas, Metel also picked up the 17-year-old.
While driving down Grand Avenue, Thomas and Metel allegedly began arguing about where they were going and Thomas stabbed Metel and the 17-year-old, police said.
The 17-year-old jumped out of the moving vehicle onto Grand Avenue. The Jeep continued rolling down the street and veered off onto the grass near Grand Avenue and Arlington Lane, then came to a stop near the Anthony Pontiac-GMC-Buick dealership.
After the Jeep came to a stop, Thomas and Metel both got out and went over to the dealership. Metel went into the service area and collapsed.
Employees of the dealership detained Thomas at the scene until a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy – who had been flagged down by a witness – showed up and arrested Thomas.
Metel and the 17-year-old were both taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. Metel was pronounced dead on arrival and the teen was treated for his injuries, which were not believed to be life-threatening.
Initially, there was some confusion about the attack, as police had received a call about a shooting and were told that a suspect had fled the scene into the nearby residential neighborhood. Police searched the area and found no gun or other suspects.
A large folding knife was recovered near the Jeep.
Thomas’ next court date was not immediately available.
