Chicago — Four men who allegedly committed a string of armed robberies in Chicago that culminated in a fiery crash on the North Side acted “as an animal surrounds its prey … in a herd mentality,” a Cook County judge said as she ordered two of the accused men held without bail.
In recent weeks, dozens of similar robberies have also been reported across the city’s north and near west sides, including some within minutes of the crimes that the men are charged with. But, so far, they are only charged with four cases.
Marcus Carter and Marquise Green, both 20, Marchelo Hicks, 21, and Dashun McGraw, 19, are each charged with four counts of armed robbery with a firearm, four counts of aggravated robbery, and four counts of robbery. Carter, Hicks, and Green also face felony gun charges, according to Chicago police.
But, while CPD said all four men would appear for bail hearings on Wednesday, only Hicks and Carter were brought to court.
Prosecutor Sarah Dale-Schmidt said the four robberies followed the same playbook. The crew boxed in someone who was sitting in a parked car, swarmed the victim with guns drawn, and took property.
She said three of the victims were warming up their cars as they prepared to go to work. The fourth had just parked when the crew spotted them.
Police recovered proceeds that had been taken from most of the victims, and video cameras recorded all or parts of three robberies, Dale-Schmidt said.
One of the recorded crimes occurred in the 2400 block of West Berwyn around 3:15 a.m. Monday. CWBChicago shared a video of that crime earlier this week. Watch:
The other alleged robberies occurred in the 4300 block of North Leavitt at 3:18 a.m. Monday; the 2100 block of North Claremont at 10:26 a.m. Monday; and the 4100 block of North Wolcott at 10:39 a.m. Monday.
Chicago police located the crew’s stolen Hyundai Santa Fe shortly after the most recent robbery. Officials said that it crashed into a city-owned truck in Lincoln Square, and its four occupants fled the wreckage, which burst into flames.
According to Dale-Schmidt, at least one person in the area provided police with surveillance footage that helped cops locate the crew inside a garage in the 5100 block of North Oakley.
The officers located two guns in the garage and another inside a nearby garbage can.
“The willingness to complete robbery after robbery after robbery after robbery. Crime spree. That’s what it is,” Judge Ortiz reflected, “It is a crime spree. An unmitigated crime spree.”
Editor’s note: Green and McGraw appeared in bond court on Thursday and were held without bail. Prosecutors said McGraw served as the getaway car driver while Green robbed the victims with Hicks and Carter.
