'Go Back To Your Country': Orland Woman Charged In Confrontation At Aldi Store

HOMER GLEN, IL — An Orland Park woman was charged with battery after a confrontation with a woman wearing a "Free Palestine" shirt turned physical at a Homer Glen Aldi store, the Will County Sheriff's Office said.

Just before 6 p.m. on July 19, officials said a call came in for a disturbance at the Aldi in the 14000 block of S. Greystone Drive in Homer Glen.

A woman at the store told deputies she was standing in the checkout line when another woman—identified as Kimberly Veron, 70, of Orland Park—told her to “go back to her country.” The victim told deputies that Veron also made other hateful comments towards her.

Police said the victim, who was wearing a “Free Palestine” sweatshirt, added that when she was about to leave, Veron allegedly pushed her shopping cart into her, an event that was caught on surveillance video.

A "verbal discussion at close range" between the two women was also caught on surveillance camera.

Deputies were able to find Veron at her home in Orland Park, where they asked her about the incident.

Veron told deputies she was "giving the victim dirty looks," and the victim began taking pictures of her.

Veron told deputies she "did not care for Muslims and had a dislike for them," according to the sheriff's office. The suspect denied ramming her cart into the victim.

Veron was accused of a felony hate crime and misdemeanor battery, according to the sheriff's office, but officials say only the battery charge has been filed against her.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office said that an investigation into the incident is ongoing, with a misdemeanor battery charge filed as of Wednesday.

"On July 19, the defendant was arrested by the Will County Sheriff’s Department," the Will County State's Attorney's Office said. "The Will County State’s Attorney Office is currently reviewing the limited evidence that has been provided by law enforcement and has requested additional information from the Sheriff’s Office as part of its ongoing investigation. Currently, the charge filed is misdemeanor battery while the matter remains under investigation. We have no further comment at this time."