Bail has been reduced for the only adult charged in connection with a mob attack and robbery in the Loop on Sept. 23.
DePaul University issued an alert after the attack unfolded near its downtown campus, saying that a group of about thirteen teenagers in yellow jackets beat and robbed a man of his phone on the corner of State and Van Buren around 9:30 p.m. The offenders then battered and robbed another group of people nearby, according to police reports and the school. A total of five people were taken into custody—four juveniles and one adult.
The adult is Keith Freeman, an 18-year-old from the Roseland neighborhood.
Police said Freeman ran from officers, “making people run back into nearby businesses out of fear for their safety.” Cops reportedly caught up with him after he collided with a man who was walking out of XSport Fitness, 819 South State.
The robbery victim, a 22-year-old man from Wrigleyville, identified Freeman as the man who took the phone from his hand while a group of men punched and kicked the victim in the head and body, police said. A witness also identified Freeman and police say they found the victim’s phone in Freeman’s pocket.
Police said a 20-year-old Plainfield man also identified Freeman as the person who walked into Paulie’s Pizza at 719 South State and punched him in the face after the robbery.
Prosecutors charged Freeman with Class X felony armed robbery, misdemeanor battery, and misdemeanor reckless conduct. Judge Mary Marubio ordered Freeman held without bail at an initial court appearance. But Judge Edward Maloney last week reduced Freeman’s bail to $10,000. Maloney ordered Freeman to go on electronic monitoring if he is able to post a 10% deposit bond of $1,000. Freeman is due back in court on Oct. 23.