Chicago — Three juveniles are charged with committing a string of armed carjackings during a spree Friday afternoon in the Gold Coast and West Town, Chicago police said. An 18-year-old man who allegedly ran from one of the hijacked vehicles as police moved in faces a felony gun charge, but he is not accused of carjacking anyone.
The hijackings began when two masked carjackers displayed guns and took control of a woman’s 2017 Porsche Macan at the Marathon service station, 649 North Ashland, around 3 p.m.
The stolen Porsche was then used to
- carjack a driver in the 1400 block of North Dearborn around 6:35 p.m.
- carjack a man at the Shell station, 1400 West Division, around 6:40 p.m.
- carjack a woman of her 2018 Jaguar F-PACE in the 400 block of North Armour around 7 p.m.
With help from the CPD helicopter, Chicago police officers followed the Porsche until it stopped about 30 minutes later in the 300 block of North Leavitt. Four people who fled from the vehicle were arrested. Officers also recovered four weapons, including two found on top of a garage.
According to Chicago police, a 16-year-old boy is charged with four counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, and misdemeanor criminal trespass to a vehicle.
A 17-year-old boy is charged with three counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm, unlawful possession of a handgun, and misdemeanor criminal trespass to a vehicle.
Another 17-year-old boy is charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
On Sunday, prosecutors charged Jacquan Jones, 18, with unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor criminal trespass to a vehicle. Prosecutor Kenneth Flesch said Chicago police officers saw him throw a black object as he ran from the stolen car in the 2100 block of West Fulton.
Cops found a loaded 9-millimeter handgun equipped with a switch that could generate automatic gunfire in the area where Jones threw the object, Flesch said.
Representing Jones, attorney Nichole Massarello said he has been accepted to colleges and is deciding where to attend after graduating high school in June. He has never been arrested before.
Judge Mary Marubio released Jones on his own recognizance and ordered him to stay in the house between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. He is due in court again on January 18.