Marcus Montgomery’s criminal record became more severe on Friday as he admitted to two carjackings within half an hour, one in Old Town and another near the former migrant shelter at the Salt Shed, in late 2024.
Cook County Judge Anjana Hansen handed down a 15-year concurrent prison sentence to the 40-year-old, as documented in court records.
The incidents unfolded around noon on December 7, 2024. A 59-year-old woman from New Berlin was unloading her 2020 Subaru SUV on the 1400 block of North Cleveland when Montgomery approached her, demanding her keys, according to a report from the Chicago Police Department. He successfully seized the keys and stole her car, though he did not manage to take her purse.
Shortly after, a 33-year-old man from Calumet City was in his red Ford Mustang at the 1308 North Elston parking lot of the migrant shelter when Montgomery allegedly tapped on his window with a gun.
Montgomery reportedly told the man, “Open the door or I’m going to shoot you!”
The man complied, after which Montgomery instructed him to empty his pockets. The man surrendered his phone, key fob, credit card, and a personal check before Montgomery fled in the Mustang, according to prosecutors.
During the investigation at the Salt Shed shelter, two migrants working nearby informed police they too were victims of Montgomery’s theft. As per the police report, the men, aged 24 and 34, recounted seeing Montgomery park the stolen Mustang across the street and leave, only to return driving the Subaru to rob them. They claimed he brandished a gun and stole a wallet, keys, a belt, a car title, and a phone.
As the migrants were recounting the incident to officers, they noticed Montgomery near the Mustang again across the street and identified him. Police immediately detained him.
Police reportedly discovered a loaded handgun in Montgomery’s jacket. All the stolen items were found in his backpack, according to the report. Upon inventorying his belongings at the station, officers allegedly discovered the stolen check from the second victim inside his wallet.
Ultimately, the two migrants opted not to press charges.
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