A South suburban man has been charged with the kidnapping of a rideshare driver and his passenger, in an ordeal that included a ransom demand. According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Donnail Hannah, 37, of Chicago Heights was arrested and faces multiple charges including two counts of aggravated kidnapping with a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and vehicular hijacking with a firearm.
The situation unfolded after the police received a call on Wednesday from an individual claiming that their family member, who worked as a rideshare driver, had been kidnapped and that they had received demands for ransom from Hannah. The kidnapper allegedly threatened to kill the male rideshare driver if the demands were not met.
Hannah reportedly commandeered the vehicle by booking a ride through an app, then coerced the driver at gunpoint to reactivate the app and pick up an additional passenger. The female passenger noticed the weapon upon entering the vehicle and was also taken hostage. As reported by FOX 32 Chicago, she managed to escape and alert the police after being forced to attempt a collection of the ransom money at a Ford Heights gas station.
The ordeal came to an end later that day, when police located Hannah and the driver in the parking lot of Windcreek Chicago Southland casino in East Hazel Crest, resulting in Hannah's arrest at the scene. His next court appearance is slated for January 9, as he remains held at the Cook County Jail.
