Two people allegedly carjacked a man at gunpoint outside a Lincoln Square service station this week and then eluded a multi-jurisdiction traffic pursuit in the north suburbs. Prosecutors today Alexander Luciano, age 35, and 33-year-old Ursula Burnett with multiple counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking.
Luciano and Burnett approached the man around 5:15 a.m. Monday as he filled his Chevy Spark with gas at Mobil, 5300 North Western, according to police and prosecutors. Burnett pulled out a handgun, went through the victim’s pants to get his car keys, and tossed the keys to Luciano, officials said during a bond appearance Wednesday.
She then jumped into the front passenger seat while Luciano got into the driver’s seat and they drove away, prosecutors said. The victim, age 65, was not injured.
An off-duty CPD sergeant began following the stolen car after he spotted it in traffic near Peterson and Cicero avenues while monitoring a police radio, prosecutors said. He then broadcast updates on the vehicle’s location as they traveled up the Edens Expressway.
At least five suburban and state police vehicles attempted to box the car in near Highland Park, but prosecutors said the car got away.
Officers located the vehicle around 6 p.m. Monday with Luciano driving and Burnett in the passenger seat, according to prosecutors. Police allegedly found a gun similar to one described by the carjacking victim inside a backpack that was on the vehicle’s back seat.
Judge David Navarro set bail for Luciano and Burnett at $100,000 each. They will need to individually post $10,000 deposit bonds to get out of jail before trial.
Prosecutors said Luciano has four felony convictions including a 2010 aggravated DUI and an armed robbery for which he received an 11-year sentence in 2001.
Burnett has been convicted of aggravated battery of a merchant and narcotics possession, an assistant state’ attorney said during bond court. Her defense lawyer said she has four children.