Santa Clarita resident Jerry Cook Jr. was attacked and carjacked last Monday while at a car wash in the San Fernando Valley.

Cook was with his friend Andrew and Andrew’s mother, Trinity Lerma, at the Buena Vista Car Wash on San Fernando Road around 8:30 p.m. when a shirtless man approached him from behind as he was retrieving his phone from the car. The man suddenly slapped Cook on the back of the head.

At first, Cook assumed it was just Andrew messing around, as they often play-fight.

“When I looked up, there was this guy telling me, ‘give me my stuff, I need my stuff,’” stated Cook in a phone interview with KHTS. “I went to close my door and the guy kicked it open and grabbed me by the hand and started punching me.”

Cook tried to fight back and called out to Andrew for help. As the struggle continued and the assailant tried to get into the driver’s seat, Andrew rushed in to assist.

While Andrew and Cook fought to stop the attacker from taking the car,  Lerma joined in to help. As she approached the vehicle, the shirtless man managed to take control of it. Trinity reached into the car to pull him out, but he began to drive off, dragging her approximately 20 feet.

“Her legs got all messed up,” said Cook. “It was obvious this guy was on some sort of drug and under the influence.”

The carjacker briefly stopped the vehicle to let Lerma go, and in that moment, Cook attempted to regain control.

“I kind of jumped in the car and tried to throw on the e-brake and was wrestling him for the e-brake stick,” said Cook.

Despite Cook’s efforts, the attacker fought him off and successfully fled in the car.

“I got beat up pretty good, and my friend’s mom’s legs are pretty messed up,” said Cook.

Though the car hasn’t been recovered, Cook was able to locate his phone thanks to location sharing with friends. They tracked it down to a homeless man who was in possession of it. Along with the phone, Cook’s wallet containing cash and multiple cards was also taken in the carjacking.

The theft has significantly impacted Cook’s life, making it difficult for him to get to work and putting a halt to his side business selling clothes.

Cook is also still without a phone, as law enforcement has since taken his as evidence. Anyone with any information on the incident or the whereabouts of Cook’s blue 2003 Lexus are encouraged to contact the San Fernando Police Department at  (818) 898-1267.

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