Editor’s note: The video above is from a previous report.
CHICAGO – A teen is facing a slew of charges in connection with two deadly carjackings and other similar incidents investigators allege unfolded during a crime spree earlier this month.
WGN-TV first reported Thursday that two suspects had been taken into custody in connection with the investigation.
On Friday, police sources said one of the suspects, a 17-year-old boy, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated armed vehicular hijacking, one count of attempted aggravated armed vehicular hijacking, and two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm.
A second suspect, an 18-year-old man, remained in custody Friday night but charges had not yet been filed.
The first deadly shooting happened during a carjacking in the 700-block of West Waveland Avenue just before 4 a.m. on Feb. 11.
According to Chicago police, a 22-year-old man and a 38-year-old man were inside a parked car when two armed suspects approached, demanded the victims’ vehicle, and started shooting.
The 22-year-old was shot in the chest and back and taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The victim was identified as Darwin Tirado, who worked for Chef Art Smith at his Navy Pier restaurant.
Smith called the killing of Tirado and a second victim “senseless” and has been sharing tributes on social media for the young man, whose mother also worked at the restaurant.
The 38-year-old was able to get away and was not injured. After the shooting, the suspects got into the victim’s car and took off, police said.
About an hour later, just before 5 a.m., police said a man was found shot to death in the 3700 block of South Lake Park Avenue in the Oakland neighborhood. At that scene, officers also found Tirado’s vehicle.
According to the medical examiner’s office, the victim, a 45-year-old man had been shot in the head. Police sources told WGN-TV the second victim’s car was also taken.
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Two additional similar incidents unfolded shortly after the deadly shootings, including an attempted carjacking at a gas station in the city’s Fuller Park neighborhood, and a carjacking in the Chatham neighborhood that left one person injured.
Multiple police sources said detectives believe the crimes to be connected to the deadly shootings in the Lakeview East and Oakland neighborhoods.
The attempted carjacking happened in the area of 42nd Street and Wentworth Avenue around 4:50 a.m. according to police.
Two suspects, both armed with handguns, approached a 70-year-old man who was attempting to get into his car. According to police, the pair demanded his property, but the victim was able to get away and the suspects took off in a gray Nissan sedan they arrived in.
Around 5 a.m. in the area of South 87th Street and West Lafayette Avenue, police said two suspects in a gray Nissan sedan approached a Chevrolet Malibu being driven by a 38-year-old man and forced the victim out of the car.
The victim was pistol-whipped before the suspects stole his vehicle and took off, police said. The man sustained a laceration to his face and was transported to St. Bernard Hospital in good condition.
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