Two people are charged with attempting to rob undercover ATF task force agents during an undercover firearms investigation in south suburban Country Club Hills, according to court records. A third person is charged with assaulting an agent during the incident. The robbery attempt ended with two suspects being shot, officials said.
A federal complaint alleges that “approximately five males and one female” attempted to rob two undercover ATF agents and a confidential informant during a firearms transaction in the 18800 block of Loretto Lane around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Two of the alleged robbers were later identified by federal officials as Amir Fagan and Demond Edwards.
According to the complaint, ATF agents had been investigating an individual suspected of trafficking firearms in the Chicago area and had already purchased guns from that person twice earlier this month. Through a confidential informant, agents arranged a third transaction at the Country Club Hills location to purchase eight firearms for $8,700.
That afternoon, two undercover agents and the confidential informant picked up the suspected gun trafficker in Crestwood in a covert vehicle equipped with audio and video recording equipment, officials said. They then drove to the Country Club Hills meeting location, where they were to meet someone who would provide the firearms, according to the complaint.
Nearly 30 minutes later, a Dodge Dart carrying six people arrived and parked on the block. Four of the occupants were wearing balaclava-style masks. Federal authorities said Fagan and Edwards got out of the vehicle and approached the undercover vehicle. At the same time, an unidentified person exited the Dodge Dart and pointed a firearm toward the occupants of the undercover vehicle while a man later identified as Cashonn Toney stepped out of the driver’s seat.
According to the complaint, Fagan turned around and pulled a handgun from inside his jacket while Edwards removed a handgun from a backpack. Both men allegedly pointed their weapons at the undercover agents and confidential informant. One of the agents drew his service weapon and ordered the men to drop their guns.
Moments later, an armed ATF response team arrived in a Dodge Ram pickup truck and an all-terrain vehicle with emergency lights activated. Members of the team fired at Fagan and Edwards after seeing them point firearms at the undercover agents, the complaint alleges. Fagan was struck in the head and arm.
Officers chased a man they believed was Edwards and caught up with him about two blocks away. When officers ordered him to stop, he allegedly responded, “I’m not going back to jail,” before a physical struggle began. During the confrontation, Edwards allegedly struck an officer multiple times in the face and body. The officer then shot Edwards. Investigators later recovered a firearm from the roof of a nearby home close to where Edwards was shot. Officers eventually located Toney hiding in the area after receiving a tip from a resident.
Authorities said Toney tried to escape in the Dodge Dart but crashed into an occupied ATF vehicle before abandoning the car and running away.
COPA, the City of Chicago agency charged with investigating uses of force by CPD officers, issued its own statement regarding the incident on Thursday. It became involved because one of the law enforcement officers who fired shots was a Chicago police officer on assignment to the ATF task force.
Of the CPD officer’s involvement, COPA said he “observed the attempted robbery and began a vehicle pursuit in an unmarked vehicle of one of the individuals. Both the officer and individual exited their vehicles and shortly thereafter, the officer discharged their weapon, striking the individual.”
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