A man who was on parole for armed robbery when he tried to carjack a priest outside Holy Name Cathedral, sparking a struggle inside the priest’s SUV, has been sentenced to four years in prison. Judge Michael Hood handed down the sentence to Raleigh Ford, 18, on Monday.
Ford was on parole for an armed robbery conviction when he targeted the priest on May 21, 2025, outside the landmark church, which serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago, at 730 North Wabash Avenue. According to prosecutors, the priest had driven to the cathedral to check the mail and have lunch with a group of nuns. He parked his 2015 Toyota RAV4 in front of the church, leaving it unlocked with the keys in the ignition.
When he returned, the priest allegedly found Ford examining the SUV before climbing into the driver’s seat. The priest entered through the passenger door, leading to a brief struggle inside the vehicle. Prosecutors said Ford punched the priest and tried to force him from the SUV. But the priest managed to pull the keys from the ignition, preventing Ford from driving away. Ford then ran from the scene.
The entire encounter was captured by cathedral surveillance cameras and three Chicago police officers who had previously arrested Ford recognized him from the footage, prosecutors said.
Five days later, Ford was arrested again after allegedly being found inside a 2011 Porsche Cayenne in the 1000 block of North Clark Street. Prosecutors said the vehicle’s owner spotted Ford in the SUV and confronted him. Ford fled on foot but was located by responding officers a short distance away.
Ford’s juvenile record includes three adjudications: an armed robbery case from 2024, for which he had been paroled just two days before the cathedral incident, and two stolen motor vehicle cases.
Under Illinois law, Ford will be required to serve 50% of his prison sentence. He will also receive credit for 483 days already spent in custody, making him eligible for release in a little more than eight months.
Original reporting you’ll see nowhere else, paid for by our readers. Click here to support our work.
