Armed Robbery Spree in Chicago Ends with Four Men in Custody
Last week, the Chicago Police Department, with the help of their helicopter, successfully ended an armed robbery spree that resulted in the arrest of four men. Shockingly, two of the accused individuals have a history of previous robberies and have spent time in prison for their crimes.
The four men—Datione Coleman, Jeremiah Collins, Kentrell Johnson, and Malik Jones-El—have been linked to a total of seven armed robberies that took place in just two hours on June 18. Prosecutors believe that the men worked together as a coordinated group, with Jones-El acting as the getaway driver who attempted to flee from law enforcement using ground and air units.
The series of events began the night before the robberies, on June 17, in the 300 block of East 47th Street. A woman had briefly left her keys in the ignition of her Mitsubishi SUV while picking up a food order from a nearby restaurant. A man took advantage of the situation, jumped into the driver’s seat, and drove off with the stolen vehicle. This stolen car was later used as the getaway vehicle for the robbery crew on the following night.
On the evening of June 18, the suspects carried out multiple armed robberies, targeting victims across various neighborhoods. They reportedly pointed firearms at their victims’ heads while demanding valuables, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors detailed the specific allegations of each robbery:
June 18, 9:15 p.m., 1600 block of South Morgan: A man was robbed by three individuals, one of whom was armed with a black handgun. They stole his wallet, phone, and car keys, making him lie on the ground with a hood over his head. Collins, one of the suspects, then targeted another man nearby, brandishing a firearm and stealing various belongings.
June 18, 9:30 p.m., 3115 South Archer: A man smoking outside One City Tap was approached by three men, one carrying a shiny handgun. They forced him into the back parking lot, held him at gunpoint, and stole his possessions. Police later recovered the victim’s items from Collins.
June 18, 10:13 p.m., 3300 block of South Lowe: A woman unlocking her front door was ambushed by a man with a firearm who demanded her belongings. Another man pushed her, causing her to fall, while a third individual took her bag. The group fled in an SUV driven by another accomplice.
June 18, 10:16 p.m., 1100 block of West Pershing: A man walking to work was accosted by a dark SUV carrying three men. One of them, wearing a ski mask, pointed a gun at him, while the others searched his pockets and stole his belongings before fleeing.
June 18, 10:30 p.m., 4900 block of South St. Lawrence: A woman walking to a friend’s house felt a gun pressed against her back. Three men stole her backpack and wallet, leaving her phone and car keys behind. Prosecutors later found her wallet in Coleman’s possession.
June 18, 11:00 p.m., 54th Place and Harper: A woman was walking home when a dark SUV pulled up, and three men approached her. One aimed a gun at her head, while the others took her backpack and fled in the vehicle.
Shortly after the final robbery, a CPD helicopter located the stolen Mitsubishi near Michigan Avenue and Garfield Boulevard. Multiple CPD units initiated a pursuit, but the driver, allegedly Jones-El, disregarded their signals to stop.
During the chase, all four men abandoned the SUV. Jones-El, the driver, dropped a 9mm handgun as he exited the vehicle. Coleman fled from the rear passenger seat, discarding a handgun that had been spray-painted to appear “sparkly.” Collins managed to evade capture by outrunning the others and hiding near Lake Shore Drive, while Johnson also fled but denied any involvement.
All four men are facing seven counts of armed robbery with a firearm. In addition, Coleman and Jones-El are charged with aggravated possession of a weapon in a vehicle, and Jones-El faces an additional charge of possessing a stolen motor vehicle.
After reviewing video evidence and witness statements, Judge John Hock remanded all four men into custody pending trial.
Records show that Collins was sentenced to six years for aggravated robbery in December 2023, during which he assaulted a woman with a firearm and stole her belongings. He had prior juvenile felony convictions, including carjacking. Johnson received an eight-year sentence in 2022 for a robbery in the 1600 block of East 50th Street.
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