Two teenage boys are facing charges after police say they robbed a 38-year-old woman in the Loop late Sunday night, transforming a bustling downtown street into a crime scene rather than a nightlife corridor. Authorities allege that the pair took the woman’s personal belongings by force in the 100 block of North Wabash Avenue, and one of the suspects is also facing a firearms allegation.
According to authorities, the incident took place at around 11:10 p.m. on Sunday, July 5. Officers apprehended the older teen at 12:12 a.m. and took the younger teen into custody at 1:32 a.m. Monday. The defendants, ages 16 and 17, were both charged with one count of robbery, with the 17-year-old being charged with a firearms offence. According to CBS Chicago, both teenagers were arrested on current warrants.
The charges occur in the middle of a year in which downtown business owners and city authorities have been keeping a close eye on high-profile crime in the Loop. Hoodline has recently covered everything from gunfire near the Washington/Wabash L stop to smash-and-grab work van thefts, occurrences that typically result in a large police reaction and plenty of concerned side-eye from downtown workers and residents.
Robbery is considered a crime under Illinois law. Robbery is defined in the state’s Criminal Code (720 ILCS 5/18-1) and outlines when an offence can be upgraded to aggravated robbery. Weapons-related offences are handled separately under Illinois’ weapons statutes.
Because the suspects are minors, whether the case remains in juvenile court or is transferred to adult court is determined under Juvenile Court Act provisions. Some violent offences fall under excluded jurisdiction, necessitating adult prosecution; nevertheless, robbery does not always result in an adult court case. For further information on transfer rules, please refer to the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender’s Juvenile Court Act digest.
Prosecutors will decide whether to submit official petitions and schedule court appearances, and case updates should be included in court records as hearings are scheduled. Police told reporters that no additional information was available at the time of the initial report, and CBS Chicago released the first on-the-record facts on the arrests.
Leave a Comment