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Officials: Man arrested after 2 carjackings, 3-county chase

By Alexa Ashwell
By Alexa Ashwell

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A domestic altercation led to a double carjacking and a chase that spanned three counties, starting in Gastonia and ending across the state line in Cherokee County, South Carolina, officials said.
 
Ricky Ruppe said he cannot forget his encounter with Maurice Sakhnini -- the man accused of stealing his car and leading police on a chase spanning three counties and two states.

IMAGES: Scene after carjacking, crash

"He had lost it," Ruppe said.
 
The incident began with Sakhnini riding in a red SUV on Interstate 85.

Sakhnini's mother said he is a paranoid schizophrenic.
 
He believed the three people in the SUV wanted to kill him.
 
Sakhnini forced the driver to get out and he took the wheel, eventually ramming Ruppe's car from behind, then hitting a bus with 45 passengers, police said.

"(Sakhnini) starts coming at me and I realize he has got a gun or a knife or something in his hands," Ruppe said.
 
Sakhnini had a disturbing look in his eyes, he said.
 
"I thought it was the devil," Ruppe said. "Just a freakish look in his eyes."
 
Sakhnini's mother said his delusions became reality and he believed he was in mortal danger.
 
"He said, 'Uh, give me the keys or I'll kill you,'" Ruppe said.
 
Ruppe threw the keys in the road, Sakhnini got them, then drove to Shelby.
 
Police said he went to the Mayflower Restaurant, punched a 65-year-old man in the head and took his state-owned SUV.
 
He crashed 13 miles later in Cherokee County just over the South Carolina state line.
 
He tried to get deputies there to kill him, deputies said.
 
They arrested him and brought him back.
 
Sakhnini's mother apologized for his actions.
 
"I'll forgive anybody for anything," Ruppe said.
 
Sakhnini's mother said she is glad that no one was hurt in this entire ordeal.  He is still at the Cleveland County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

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