A West Pullman man used dating apps to lure other men into robbery traps on the Far South Side, then forced them to send him money electronically, Chicago police said Friday. Detectives believe there are more victims out there and are encouraging them to file reports.
Police identified the suspect as 26-year-old Demarko Gibson of the first block of East 126th Street. He is charged with three robberies in a larger crime pattern that CPD warned the public about on October 23. The department said Gibson was “an offender” in the crimes, suggesting he may have worked with accomplices.
According to CPD, all of the victims were men who arranged to meet someone through dating apps. After agreeing on a time and place, the victims met with the offender, who then displayed a handgun and demanded their property. The offender also forced them to send money through banking apps, police said.
Police linked six incidents to the pattern:
- 12400 block of South State Street on August 13 at 2:15 p.m.
- 1500 block of West 111th Street on August 20 at 3:10 a.m.
- 11800 block of South La Salle Street on August 20 at 4 a.m.
- 100 block of West 108th Place on September 2 at 12:30 a.m.
- 300 block of East 105th Street on October 16 at 7:30 p.m.
- 100 block of West 127th Street on October 23 at 6:57 a.m.
Gibson is charged in connection with the three most recent robberies, which involved victims who were 41, 61, and 26 years old, respectively…