Vietnam war vet killed in an attempted carjacking in Chicago

 A Marine Veteran fought in two wars. He lost his life at the hands of two thugs. He was simply going to the store for groceries.

By Edward Era Barbacena

An elderly man was killed in a carjacking attempt Wednesday afternoon in Hyde Park, just a few blocks from the University of Chicago campus.

Police said around 12:40 p.m., officers responded to a call of a robbery near 53rd Street and Kimbark Avenue.

The attack happened about three blocks northeast of the University of Chicago campus.

As CBS 2’s Charlie De Mar reported, relatives identified the victim as 74-year-old Vietnam veteran Keith Cooper.

Witnesses told police two carjackers tried to take Cooper’s vehicle, and punched him in the head, according to UCPD. Cooper was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Cooper’s daughter, Keinika Carlton, said her father was out running errands at Hyde Park Produce at the busy Kimbark Plaza Shopping Center when he was attacked.

His car was parked in front of the Leona’s pizzeria in the shopping center, with his license plate holder that proudly showed off his military service.

Wednesday at around 12:30 p.m., Cooper was outside his regular grocery store in the 5300-block of West Kimbark in Hyde Park when police said he was approached by two strangers.

They demanded his car and then punched him in the head repeatedly. His daughter said the beating caused a heart attack that killed him. He died just days before his birthday.

“Vietnam veteran, Marine – served this country,” said Cooper’s son-inn-law, Curtis Carlton.

Keinika Carlton described her father as a man who loved jazz music, sports, science fiction, and scary movies.

“It’s ridiculous. It doesn’t make any sense. It’s like, you know, if you need a car, there’s ways to get a car,” Carlton said. “That’s not the way – to harm an old man, somebody’s dad.”

"I just don't understand it," said Curtis Carlton, Cooper's son-in-law. "Broad daylight, he comes here all the time. We all shop here. They tried to steal his car- They didn't even get his car and they took his life."

Cooper drove his black Hyundai for Uber and Lyft, but his family said they don’t believe he was driving for either rideshare service at the time of the carjacking.

“I know you’re going to eventually lose a parent. I would rather him went in his sleep, or something like that, but not like this. This was selfish. This is painful,” Keinika Carlton said.

“You didn’t even get his car. You took his life,” Curtis Carlton added. “It was two guys preying on a senior citizen.”

The carjackers fled north on Kimbark Avenue, but were arrested a short time later a few blocks away after witnesses helped identify them to police.

Cooper’s family said they appreciate those witnesses for their efforts.

Late Wednesday, the official cause of Cooper’s death had not been determined. But his family says he does have a history of heart problems and fear he may have died from heart 

Source: CBS Chicago