Four Men Sentenced to Prison for Robbing Uber Driver at Gunpoint
Four men have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from eight to 11 years for robbing an Uber driver at gunpoint while undercover Chicago police officers witnessed the crime.
The group consisted of 19-year-old Renard McGee from DeKalb, as well as Chicago residents Lawrence Norwood, 19, Omari Gunn, 20, and Jaquan Martin, 21. Additionally, a 17-year-old boy was charged in juvenile court.
According to officials, an undercover police unit from the city’s carjacking task force was on duty near Ohio Street and Harding Avenue at 7 a.m. on Sunday, March 24, 2024, when they observed the robbery taking place.
Armed with three guns, including an AK-47, five offenders confronted a 27-year-old Uber driver, stealing his wallet and phones before fleeing in a stolen Dodge Charger.
The undercover unit immediately alerted dispatchers and, with the help of other undercover officers, marked and unmarked patrol cars, and a CPD helicopter, tracked the vehicle. The Charger eventually came to a stop in the 5000 block of West Quincy Street, where the suspects ran into a residence.
According to court documents, the home belonged to Gunn’s mother, who allowed officers to enter. Inside, six males were found. Gunn’s mother identified one individual as not being involved, leading to the arrest of the remaining five suspects. McGee was discovered in a hallway closet, Norwood in the living room, Martin in a bedroom, and Gunn hiding in a bedroom closet.
Prosecutors alleged that Norwood was in possession of the AK-47 during the robbery and that Gunn received a $250 CashApp payment from the victim immediately after the incident. They also revealed that the Dodge Charger had been stolen in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
On Friday, Martin was the final adult defendant to be sentenced after pleading guilty to armed robbery in exchange for a nine-year term handed down by Judge Diana Kenworthy.
McGee, who pleaded guilty to armed robbery with a firearm on August 1, received an 11-year sentence. Norwood, who pleaded guilty to armed robbery on June 17, was sentenced to eight years. Gunn, who entered a guilty plea on March 17, was sentenced to 10 years.
As part of their plea agreements, prosecutors dropped unrelated felony cases against McGee, Norwood, and Martin. Gunn did not have any other pending cases.
Under Illinois law, each of the men will serve half of their sentences with credit for good behavior.
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