A Woman from Summit Accused of Orchestrating Armed Carjacking Through Instagram
A woman from suburban Summit is facing charges for allegedly orchestrating an armed carjacking in Chicago Lawn by luring her victim through Instagram and enlisting two juveniles to help carry out the crime.
According to prosecutors, Sara Antunez, 18, met a 28-year-old man from Addison on Instagram and arranged to meet him in the 6300 block of South Albany around 7:30 p.m. on July 30. The man arrived with his 27-year-old cousin in a Buick sedan.
Upon arrival, Antunez reportedly came out of a nearby residence and went back inside under the pretext of getting a phone charger. However, instead of returning with a charger, she came back with two juvenile males wearing ski masks.
The trio then approached the driver’s side of the Buick, with one of the boys pointing a gun at the victim’s head and demanding that he get out of the car. The gunman threatened to shoot the victim if he did not comply.
Both victims complied, and the armed teen took the driver’s wallet and phone before all three hijackers got into the Buick and drove off. The victim used his cousin’s phone to call 911.
The following day, Chicago police surveillance officers located the stolen Buick in traffic near the 3600 block of West 63rd Street and called for enforcement officers to stop the vehicle. Antunez and the two juveniles attempted to flee from the car but were apprehended by officers within a half-block.
Upon searching the vehicle, investigators found a defaced 9mm handgun on the front passenger floorboard, where one of the juveniles had been seated. The serial number of the gun had been obliterated.
Both victims positively identified Antunez in photo line-ups, and CPD investigators matched her appearance to the profile photo on the Instagram account used to lure the victims into the ambush.
Judge James Costello granted prosecutors’ request to detain Antunez, emphasizing that she had “deployed two juveniles in her scheme” and had made admissions to the police. The juveniles are facing charges in juvenile court.
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