Chicago — A Chicago man exacted a little revenge by notifying Chicago police that his ex-boyfriend was responsible for a string of robberies on the North Side in which the offender escaped in a U-Haul truck.
Kyuan Murry, 24, is now charged with four counts of robbery and unrelated misdemeanors, including domestic battery and criminal damage to property.
Prosecutors said Murry threw rocks at his ex’s windows and kicked the man’s door on November 18. The ex-boyfriend reported domestic violence incidents involving Murry to police on December 13 and again on November 11, saying Murry pushed him against a wall both times.
On February 22, the ex-boyfriend contacted police about the domestics and provided officers with pictures of the robbery proceeds, Assistant State’s Attorney Rhianna Biernat said.
The robbery spree began on December 10 when Murry grabbed a 62-year-old Uptown woman’s purse by force, causing her to fall to the ground in the 600 block of West Bittersweet, according to Biernat. Witnesses heard the woman’s screams, and one took pictures of the robber running away and the U-Haul truck he escaped in.
He allegedly committed three more robberies the next day.
First, officials said he climbed into the back seat of a 72-year-old woman’s car as she was preparing to go for a drive in the 5900 block of North Kenmore. He allegedly ripped a purse from the woman’s shoulder and fled in a U-Haul truck. Once again, witnesses took pictures of the truck, and a CPD surveillance camera captured its license plate number.
Then, around 9:40 p.m., Murry grabbed a 49-year-old woman from behind in the 3000 block of North Pine Grove in Lakeview, said Biernat. He allegedly tore away the woman’s purse and escaped in the U-Haul.
The third robbery of the day was a bit different. Biernat said Murry and another man grabbed a 40-year-old male attorney from behind as the lawyer walked home in the 1600 block of South Clinton.
They threw him to the ground, and one of them threatened to stomp on his face as they took his wallet. The robbers fled in the U-Haul.
Police released surveillance images of the moving truck and the robbery suspect on December 8, but the investigation ramped up after Murry’s ex stepped forward.
Biernat said that Murry always got into the U-Haul cab from the passenger side, suggesting he also had help in the other robberies. She said the victims’ credit cards were used at Target stores to buy gift cards shortly after each crime. Police found surveillance footage that showed Murry getting out of the U-Haul at one of the Target locations.
Murry’s ex contacted the lawyer’s law firm and reported that he had his court identification, which was taken during the robbery, Biernat said. Police also learned that Murry rented the U-Haul on December 5.
Judge Ankur Srivastava set bail at $120,000, meaning Murry must post $12,000 to be released before trial.
On February 15, Murry was charged with snatching a woman’s purse in the parking lot of a CVS in Palos Heights earlier this month. Judge Linzie Jones handled that bail hearing and released him on his own recognizance with electronic monitoring.
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