More teens arrested for carjackings in Chicago, lawmaker calls for changes in the juvenile justice system
CHICAGO - Three 14-year-olds face felony charges in connection to a string of carjackings across Chicago, including one teen accused in nine carjackings and robberies since July.
Two of the defendants are 14-year-old girls charged in a Wednesday carjacking in Lawndale, Chicago police said.
The pair allegedly put a man in a chokehold and forced him out of the car in the 3400 block of West Douglas Boulevard.
One teen was arrested after a short foot chase, while the other was arrested 20 minutes later in the block where the carjacking happened, police said.
Illinois State Senator Bill Cunningham says in 2018 a bill passed the Senate to address the problem of juvenile carjackers. However, it was changed in the House and was bottled up because of opposition.
"A few years ago, we looked at the numbers and what we found is half of all juveniles in Cook County were released within 24 hours," said Cunningham.
Another teen, who was on home electronic monitoring for another charge, is accused in nine separate carjackings and car thefts in July and January.
Police said he’s accused in incidents in Calumet Heights, Bronzeville, Chatham, Avalon Park and Kenwood.
The incidents happened:
- in the 8800 block of South Luella;
- in the 1600 block of East 92nd Pl.;
- in the 8900 block of South Constance;
- in the 600 block of East Bowen;
- in the 2600 block of East 91st Street;
- in the 7900 block of South State;
- in the 8800 block of South East End;
- in the 8600 block of South University;
- in the 4400 block of South Oakenwald.
Two of these carjackings happened this week. In one of the crimes, a 73-year-old man had to run for his life.
In another, an off-duty Chicago police officer was forced out of her Lexus and her gun was stolen.
The teen was arrested Wednesday in Park Manor after he was identified as a suspect, police said.
He was expected in juvenile court Thursday.
FOX 32's Tia Ewing contributed to this report.