Federal Judge Sentences Man to Nine Years for Carjacking Rideshare Driver at Willis Tower
A man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for carjacking a rideshare driver at gunpoint outside the Willis Tower in January 2021. Joshua Walker pleaded guilty to federal charges of carjacking and using a machine gun during a violent crime. U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland imposed a two-year sentence for the carjacking charge and a consecutive seven-year sentence for the firearm charge.
Walker, along with fellow members of the “Beamteam” gang, committed several violent crimes on the morning of the carjacking and on other occasions. The carjacking outside the Willis Tower was just one of the violent acts attributed to Walker and his associates.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours when Walker approached a rideshare driver sitting in his car outside the Willis Tower. He pointed a firearm at the victim, demanded he exit the vehicle, and surrender his phone. The victim complied, and the carjackers fled with the stolen vehicle.
After the carjacking, Walker drove the stolen vehicle to his home and attempted to sell the victim’s phone at a Boost Mobile store. Prosecutors revealed that Walker’s accomplice in the carjacking was involved in a subsequent murder in Oak Park shortly after the Willis Tower incident.
While Walker was not present during the murder, he made a concerning Facebook post referring to the incident, indicating a lack of fear in taking a life. Federal officials are considering pursuing the death penalty against the accomplice involved in the murder.
Prosecutors described the Beamteam gang as a violent group known for using laser beams on their firearms during criminal activities, including armed carjackings and robberies. Walker was also linked to additional violent crimes in 2019 and armed robberies at Dunkin’ locations in 2021.
One notable message from Walker to another individual highlighted his involvement in criminal activities: “I ain’t even gonna lie to you, I been robbin’ people all morning . . . I just told my grandma the same thing, but I been robbin’ people all morning.”
