CHICAGO — A Chicago man charged with committing two armed carjackings in February and firing a gun into the air after someone shot him on New Year’s Eve will now be fighting related charges in federal court. Prosecutors filed the three-count federal grand jury indictment against Angel Martinez, 23, on Monday.
The charges include one count of carjacking stemming from the December 22 hijacking of a 48-year-old food delivery driver’s Toyota Prius. The driver’s dashcam recorded Martinez holding a gun during the hijacking in the 8400 block of South Brandon, Cook County prosecutors said when they filed state charges in February.
Federal officials also charged Martinez with using a firearm in the commission of a carjacking and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The latter count accuses him of possessing a Glock pistol from December 22, the date of the carjacking charge, until December 31, the day Martinez got shot in a drive-by.
Around 2:26 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Martinez was standing in the 10300 block of South Avenue L when a gunman opened fire on him from a passing vehicle, striking him in the thigh.
Local prosecutors said Martinez fired 12 rounds into the air after being shot. Chicago cops allegedly recovered the Glock, equipped with an extended magazine, at the scene.
Cook County prosecutors typically drop state cases shortly after federal officials file related charges.
Local authorities have also charged Martinez with carjacking a 19-year-old man in the 8300 block of South Buffalo on December 20, two days before the hijacking of the delivery driver. According to state prosecutors, Martinez arranged to meet with the victim to buy a computer. But when the man showed up, Martinez and two masked accomplices displayed guns and hijacked his car, according to Cook County prosecutors.
