A 16-year-old male has been slapped with a litany of felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly engaging in a spree of armed robberies and carjackings across Chicago, authorities said. The juvenile offender is facing four counts of armed robbery, two counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm, six counts of unlawful restraint, an additional count of attempted armed robbery, and lesser charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal trespass to a vehicle.
The suspect was nabbed on March 18, according to the Chicago Police Department, after being identified as the individual behind multiple incidents earlier in the month, including the possession of a stolen vehicle and the forceful taking of property at gunpoint. The string of crimes took place at various locations on the South Side, creating a wave of fear among residents.
The alleged crime spree kicked off on March 9 in the 7200 block of S. Dorchester Avenue and continued through March 11. Victims ranged in age from 24 to 63 and were predominantly female. On one occasion, the juvenile allegedly commandeered a vehicle and property from a 63-year-old woman. Shortly thereafter, he is accused of robbing a 55-year-old female and menacing another 63-year-old woman on the same block.
Further incidences include the theft of property from a 31-year-old female, and using a firearm to demand valuables. The juvenile's aggressive tactics culminated on March 11, when he purportedly attempted and failed to rob a 24-year-old female. After being taken into custody in the 7300 block of S. Kenwood Avenue, the juvenile was charged accordingly.
No further details regarding the case have been released at this time.
