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| Askew (top) and Shabazz |
One of the men accused of tackling, beating, and robbing a senior citizen at gunpoint Sunday afternoon was arrested in Boystown last winter and charged with brandishing a replica firearm during a fight on Halsted Street.
Days later, a Cook County judge threw out the weapons charge against David Shabazz finding “no probable cause” despite statements by multiple witnesses and police officers’ own reports of recovering a Sig Sauer blue steel air pistol from Shabazz’s coat.
Now, 20-year-old Shabazz is accused of pointing a gun, beating, and robbing a 63-year-old long-time Lakeview resident with 18-year-old Juwan Askew near the victim’s home at Barry and Kenmore.
Shabazz is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, armed robbery, and aggravated battery of a senior citizen. Cops say he is a member of the Traveling Vice Lords street gang.
Askew is charged with armed robbery, aggravated battery of a senior citizen, and resisting police.
Boystown Incident
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| A Sig Sauer pellet gun |
Police responding to a call of a man with a gun at Halsted and Aldine shortly after 2AM on February 6 were flagged down by two witnesses who said that a man walking westbound on Aldine had just brandished a handgun during a fight on the street.
Cops who caught up with the man—later identified as Shabazz—said they found the look-alike air pistol in his coat.
But, charges against Shabazz were tossed out at a hearing several days later.
Incredibly, Chicago police records show that one day after Shabazz was arrested in Boystown, he was arrested again near his home in Englewood. He was charged with trespassing…and possession of a pellet handgun.
Court records from the Englewood case were not immediately available.
Sunday
A number of witnesses who saw Sunday’s attack have written about the incident in the comments section of our original report.
According to various posts, the victim was bleeding after being knocked to the ground, kicked and punched by two offenders. Chicago police said in a statement today that the victim had been punched in the face.
Sources have confirmed that the victim is a long-time resident of the Kenmore and Barry area. He is a world-renowned expert on ancient Egypt.
