At least 6 robbed in Medical District this morning; gun fires during West Town carjacking attempt

CHICAGO — At least six people were robbed at gunpoint during a ten-minute robbery spree in the Medical District this morning. Earlier, a would-be carjacker’s handgun fired when he struck a victim in the head with it in West Town, according to Chicago police.

This morning’s crime spree began around 8:45 a.m. in the 1700 block of West Harrison. Two women were walking near Rush Hospital when two masked men stepped out of a stolen car with guns to rob them.

The car, a black Kia SUV with a broken rear side window, was reported stolen yesterday, according to CPD records.

Similar robberies involving the same vehicle were soon reported outside Stroger Hospital and in the 800 block of South Wolcott. Three people more people were robbed at gunpoint outside Washington Irving Elementary School, 749 South Oakley, according to two separate CPD reports.

In each case, the robbers were described as two Hispanic or Black males wearing face masks and black clothing.

Chicago police are also investigating a carjacking attempt in the 700 block of North Leavitt around 1:45 a.m. Monday.

A 38-year-old man was inside a vehicle when two men approached on opposite sides of the vehicle, according to a CPD spokesperson. They ordered him to get out of the vehicle. He complied after the man on the passenger side broke one of the vehicle’s windows, police said.

Once he was out of the vehicle, the other offender began to beat him, and the carjacker’s gun fired after he hit the victim with it in the head. According to CPD, the bullet missed everyone.

Both carjackers fled with the victim’s property in a black sedan, but they did not take his vehicle.

Police are also investigating two holdups within minutes of each other just west of downtown. In one incident, three men robbed a man at gunpoint in the 700 block of South Jefferson around 7:20 p.m. Another victim was robbed at gunpoint by three men near Adams and Clinton around 7:44 p.m.

Another round of robberies occurred between about 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday morning. It began around 5:10 a.m. when armed robbers stepped out of a dark sedan to rob a victim near Armitage and Kimball.

About 15 minutes later, a concealed-carry license holder was carjacked at gunpoint in the 2600 block of West Chrystal. He reported that three men with laser-equipped guns took his white 2017 GMC Acadia. The crew also got away with his handgun, which was inside the vehicle, according to a police report.

Finally, three men wearing face masks jumped out of a dark-colored sedan to rob a victim in the 2200 block of West Erie.

Robbery reports across Chicago are up 25% this year and up 33% compared to 2019. Some areas are experiencing even more significant increases, particularly on the Near West Side.

The Shakespeare (14th) District, based in Logan Square and serving neighborhoods like Bucktown, Wicker Park, and part of Humboldt Park, has experienced a 56% increase in robberies this year. Reports are up 109% from 2019.

In the Near West (12th) District, which includes areas from Humboldt Park to the West Loop, robberies have increased 58% this year. They’re up 82% compared to 2019.

Robbery sprees have been popping up several times a week, with West Town, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square particularly hard-hit. Our reporting has been exhaustive, but here are some recent stories:

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