CHICAGO — A Chicago TV news videographer was robbed while preparing to cover a press conference Tuesday afternoon on the West Side.
The 45-year-old victim was in the 2800 block of West Monroe when two men walked up and asked him for money around 2 p.m., according to a Chicago police spokesperson.
When he told them he had no money, one of the men tried to take his phone. But the victim pushed the man off and put his phone inside his vehicle, police said. Then he ran from the scene after the man pushed him to the ground.
The second offender broke a window on the victim’s vehicle and took two phones from inside, the CPD spokesperson said. Both offenders ran from the area.
Police said the victim was not injured. CPD classified the case as an attempted strong-arm robbery, theft, simple battery, and criminal damage to a vehicle.
In keeping with its policy, CPD did not identify the victim as a news videographer, but a source familiar with the situation said he was working for ABC7 and was targeted as he stood near a Chevy Equinox from the station’s fleet.
The newsman was in the area to cover a press conference by Rev. Paul Jakes, Jr., who later spoke to the media about the murder of his cousin, 14-year-old Damarion Jakes, over the weekend.
Damarion was shot on the 2700 block of West Van Buren around 5:53 a.m. Saturday and succumbed to his injuries Monday.
Rev. Jakes is offering a $500 reward for the arrest of those responsible for Damarion’s death, according to a media release.
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