A man who committed a string of violent crimes in Chicago's South Loop, including sexual assault, robbery, and kidnapping, died in a car crash. The crime spree that terrorized the city ended tragically early Friday when the suspect was killed after his vehicle flipped over following a high-speed chase.
The rampage started around midnight, when an unidentified assailant forced his way into a residential building in the 1500 block of South Wabash, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. A 48-year-old woman was the first victim, held at knifepoint and sexually assaulted. Two other women, both 27, entered and were also threatened with the knife; their possessions were taken. A 27-year-old man happened upon the scene and was similarly robbed.
The attacker then forced the three victims into one of their cars and drove them to a restaurant in the Bridgeport neighborhood. According to NBC Chicago, he dragged the kidnapped man inside to steal cash and injured another person in the process. "It's very scary, it makes me feel very uncomfortable," resident Isabel Henderson told NBC Chicago, reflecting the community's shock.
The chaos continued as the suspect collided with a police car before losing control and crashing in the 3000 block of South Pitney Court. He was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The two kidnapped women were taken to Stroger Hospital, where they sustained unspecified injuries but were reported to be in good condition.
Neighbors and city residents are calling for heightened action from local leaders. "They need to work with Chicago police and empower them to take care of the citizens of Chicago to keep us safe," resident Nicholas Palmeri stated in the NBC Chicago coverage. The Chicago authorities are continuing their investigation into the nightmare that unfolded, probing each link in the chain of crimes that led to the perpetrator's violent demise.
