CHICAGO — A man accused of shooting another man during a robbery attempt in Chinatown and then shooting at a woman during another robbery less than an hour later has been given a 13-year prison sentence.
Jerome Powell, 27, was on probation for burglary and on bail for a felony gun case when he participated in the robbery attempts and shooting late on July 14, 2021, prosecutors said.
The first crime occurred in Chinatown, where a man and woman were sitting in a car when four men ran up to their vehicle, and a gray Dodge Durango pulled in front of them. Prosecutors said Powell leaned in the passenger door, pointed a gun at the driver’s face, and eventually fired a shot that struck the driver in the hand. Other crew members allegedly demanded the victims’ valuables, but they couldn’t understand what the robbers were saying because the victims only speak Mandarin.
Powell would later admit to “shooting at the Chinese man” because he was “trying to scare the Chinese man,” prosecutors alleged after his arrest. The victim’s dashcam also recorded the entire robbery, and Powell’s face was clearly visible.
About 45 minutes later, a gray Dodge Durango blocked a woman in as she used a bank’s drive-up ATM on the South Side. Powell stepped out of the SUV and ordered the woman out of her car while pointing a gun at her, prosecutors said. But the woman couldn’t open her door because she was too close to the ATM. She started to back up so she could get out.
Officials said Powell suddenly fired a bullet into the car that slammed into the back of the dashboard and caused the speedometer glass to shatter in the woman’s face. Powell and another robber ran from the scene while a third offender drove away in the Durango. The woman did not sustain any serious injuries.
Police found the Chinatown shooting victim’s wallet lying on the pavement near the bank ATM. Bank surveillance cameras allegedly recorded the second hold-up and shooting.
Powell later admitted to shooting into the woman’s car because he was “trying to get her to stop,” according to prosecutors. He allegedly told investigators that he was sorry.
Detectives pieced the case together through a third incident: About nine hours after the bank shooting, police who responded to a car crash saw four men run from the wrecked vehicle. Powell was allegedly one of the three men cops caught. The cops had no reason to arrest Powell, so they sent him on his way.
Officers’ body-worn and dash cameras captured the interaction. Detectives eventually used those videos and footage from the two robberies to build their case against Powell.
On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to aggravated battery by discharging a firearm in connection with the Chinatown case and aggravated discharge of a firearm into an occupied vehicle for the second crime. Judge Natosha Toller sentenced him to 13 years on each count, with the time to be served concurrently.
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