HOLLYWOOD, FLA. – A chaotic series of events led to the arrest of a suspected carjacker in Hollywood, and now the victims are speaking out about their terrifying ordeal. Khila Darrisaw, 20, was waiting in a McDonald’s drive-thru Wednesday morning when a man suddenly opened her car door and jumped in. It was the beginning of a frightening exchange that could have taken a deadly turn.
Darrisaw, who was borrowing her father’s car that day, recalled the moment the suspect, later identified as Edward Dawson, demanded she drive him somewhere. “I refused, and that’s when things escalated,” she said. As Dawson tried to push her foot to drive, Darrisaw managed to pull the car into park, an act that enraged the carjacker. He struggled with her for the keys, forcibly taking them from her hand before shoving her out of the vehicle.
Thankfully, the situation didn’t end there. Dawson drove off, only to commit further crimes nearby. About 18 minutes later, authorities learned that Dawson had targeted another victim, Kurt Decker, in a separate carjacking attempt. Decker recounted how Dawson attacked him inside his own vehicle, landing several blows to his face. But Decker fought back, managing to keep control of his pickup truck until help arrived.
Despite the physical injuries, including a bloody nose, Decker is thankful to have survived. “I’m blessed,” he said. “He didn’t shoot me, he didn’t stab me.”
Darrisaw, though shaken, expressed relief that her car was stolen, as it ultimately led to Dawson’s capture. “I’m glad they got him off the street,” she said. Both victims are urging others to stay vigilant. “This could have gone in a different direction,” Darrisaw added.
Dawson now faces multiple charges, including carjacking, aggravated battery, and burglary. He was arrested after the stolen vehicle was tracked down, and while he did not attend his court appearance, the charges remain severe.
