An elderly woman whose luxury SUV was carjacked by gun in Hazel Crest by two teens caused a huge situation on the Bishop Ford Expressway (I-94) when a police chase ensued. According to reports the stolen Lexus was spotted in suburban Dillon area when the Dolton police attempted to stop the vehicle when the suspects took off and thus the police chase began.
The chase found its way into the I-94 expressway when the stolen vehicle caused an accident and the suspects jumped out and were on foot. One suspect brandished a weapon and was unfortunately shot by the Dolton Police officer.
Traffic on the Bishop Ford was tied up for a few hours but was finally reopened in the evening.
Read more as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times:
A 17-year-old boy was shot to death by a Dolton police officer during a pursuit of two carjacking suspects Tuesday afternoon in the south suburb, authorities said.
About 2:30 p.m., Dolton police officers near Sibley and Greenwood spotted a vehicle being sought in connection with a carjacking in Hazel Crest, according to Dolton police. The officers tried to stop the vehicle, but it sped away and a chase ensued.
The suspects, two 17-year-old boys, led the officers on a pursuit to the northbound lanes of the Bishop Ford Freeway (I-94) near 130th Street, where their vehicle struck a semi truck, police said. The suspects then jumped out of the vehicle.
One of the boys pulled out a pistol and was shot by a Dolton police officer, according to Dolton Police Chief Robert Collins Jr.
The boy, identified as 17-year-old Darreon J. Neal who lived in Markham, was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 5:59 p.m., the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday.
The second suspect was taken into custody about an hour after the shooting. He was found hiding in brush about 300 yards away, police said. Two guns were recovered from the scene.
The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force will investigate the police-involved shooting. No officers were injured in the incident.
Chicago Police said they assisted Dolton police with the investigation in the 1300 block of East 130th Street.
All inbound traffic on I-94 was stopped about 3 p.m. at 130th Street. Southbound lanes were not affected by the closure, but experienced significant gapers’ delays. All lanes were back open by 8:50 p.m.
Several South Shore Line trains were also stopped because of police activity near the Hegewisch Station, 13730 S. Brainard Ave. All trains had resumed service, though with major delays and crowded cars, as of about 4:30 p.m.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times