Chicago police say a quiet early Wednesday in River North turned chaotic when a man and woman were robbed at gunpoint after their car was rear-ended at East Ontario and Rush Street, and one of the suspects fired shots into the ground.
According to police, the pair were sitting in their vehicle when another car bumped them from behind. Four men climbed out of the other vehicle, pulled guns and demanded the victims' belongings. One of the suspects fired into the ground during the holdup, but no one was struck, and the man and woman did not report injuries at the scene. Area Three detectives are investigating.
ABC7 Chicago reports the robbery happened around 3:52 a.m. and involved a 37-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman. Police told the station the victims' car was hit from behind by a silver sedan, and the four suspects took off westbound in that vehicle. Officers were canvassing nearby businesses for surveillance footage as detectives continued their probe.
River North's late-night violence
The early-morning stickup adds to a string of pre-dawn confrontations in the neighborhood this year. In late December, a mass shooting near North LaSalle left one person dead and three others critically injured, as detailed in Hoodline's River North nightlife turns deadly, which also highlighted mounting concerns about nightlife safety in the area.
Another early-morning robbery this month
Police say this is not the first time this month that someone has been targeted in the area before dawn. Earlier this month, an armed robbery in the 200-block of West Ontario involved two suspects allegedly guiding a man into an SUV and robbing him at gunpoint, according to ABC7 Chicago. Investigators said that case followed a familiar pattern of suspects focusing on people in vehicles or on sidewalks during pre-dawn hours.
Police ask for tips
Chicago police are asking anyone with information about the latest robbery to contact Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com. They are also urging residents and business owners to preserve any surveillance or doorbell footage that might help. Investigators are canvassing the River North corridor and reviewing cellphone video as they track down leads, and FOX 32 Chicago noted the contact details for Area Three detectives.
