A 19-year-old man has been given an eight-year sentence for shooting a woman in the back during a robbery while he had three felony cases pending in juvenile court.
Tommy Douglas was already facing charges of armed carjacking, aggravated robbery, possessing a stolen motor vehicle, and attempted burglary when he shot the woman on June 16, 2024, prosecutors said. The bullet caused severe internal injuries.
The woman was walking her puppy to a corner store in the 3900 block of West 21st Street around 1:10 p.m. when she heard footsteps behind her. She was carrying a brown Michael Kors purse. Douglas grabbed her from behind and demanded the purse. When she struggled to keep it, he put a gun against her back and fired one shot, prosecutors said. After gaining control of the purse, he fled with three other people, video allegedly showed.
A Chicago police tactical officer recognized Douglas from the video, according to a CPD report. Investigators then included Douglas’ photo in a lineup, and the woman identified him as the shooter, prosecutors said. The woman told investigators she specifically remembered the gunman’s eyes. She also remembered that he was wearing white Crocs, which Douglas was wearing in the surveillance video.
Douglas admitted that he was present for the robbery and was wearing white Crocs, but he told police that someone else shot the woman, officials said. He also admitted to throwing the woman’s purse into a field, prosecutors stated.
Court records show Douglas pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the case. Judge Carol Howard gave him an eight-year sentence. He must serve 85% of the sentence, giving him a scheduled release date of April 11, 2031.
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