Chicago mall driver charged with count of terrorism

Police in Schaumburg have announced that the man accused of driving an SUV through a suburban Chicago shopping mall is facing a state terrorism charge.

22-year-old Javier Garcia was also charged with felony criminal damage to property. No federal charges have been brought against Garcia.

Under Illinois law, the Class X felony of terrorism can apply if the suspect is believed to have caused more than $100,000 in damage to any building containing five or more businesses.

Schaumburg Police Chief Bill Wolf said after the incident that the suspect may have been suffering from a medical condition, after Garcia entered the mall by smashing through the front door of a Sears store in a black SUV. Garcia was immediately arrested after jumping from the vehicle.