A late-night rideshare trip in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood ended with a gun pointed at a driver’s face and a stolen car, and now an 18-year-old man is facing a juvenile charge connected to the April carjacking. Police say the rider pulled a gun on a 47-year-old driver, ordered him out of the vehicle, then took off. The driver was not hurt. Detectives arrested the suspect last Thursday and lodged a felony count of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm, with the case now moving through juvenile court as the investigation continues.
Arrest and charges
According to FOX 32 Chicago, officers responded to the carjacking around 1:15 a.m. on April 13 in the 4500 block of South Hermitage Avenue. Police say a passenger in the rideshare produced a firearm and demanded that the driver get out of the car.
FOX 32 Chicago reports that the suspect, who is now 18 but was a juvenile at the time of the alleged hijacking, was taken into custody in the 5100 block of South Wentworth Avenue at about 6:48 p.m. last Thursday. He is charged with one felony count of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm.
Dashcam footage and police appeal
In the days after the incident, Chicago police released dashcam video from inside the vehicle and publicly asked for help identifying the man seen in the stolen car, as reported by CBS Chicago. The footage shows a suspect wearing a “Rick and Morty” hoodie, with visible tattoos on his neck and hand.
Detectives urged anyone who recognizes the person in the video or has information about the case to contact Area 1 and reference tip number JJ216082, CBS Chicago noted.
What the charge could mean
Illinois’ aggravated vehicular hijacking statute, 720 ILCS 5/18-4, treats hijacking a vehicle while armed with a firearm as an aggravated offense that can carry Class X penalties and additional time when a gun is involved, according to Justia. That framework can add years to a sentence if the firearm element is proved, though outcomes can differ when a case starts in juvenile court or is transferred to adult court.
Court timeline and next steps
The accused was scheduled for a juvenile detention hearing last Friday, FOX 32 Chicago reports. Prosecutors and juvenile court officials will decide whether he remains in detention and whether the case should be moved into adult court…