A 19-year-old man, Michael Jenkins, is facing charges for a violent robbery in Lakeview that resulted in a woman being shot. This incident occurred while Jenkins was already on pretrial release for a pending felony stolen vehicle case and is suspected in several other armed robberies across Chicago.
According to prosecutors, the robbery took place near Wellington and Broadway in the early hours of July 13. Two 24-year-old women were walking home when three armed men approached them. The women were attacked, one was shot in the stomach, and their belongings were stolen. The injured woman was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Jenkins is accused of stealing a Ford Edge just hours before the robbery and was later arrested after a foot chase. Investigators used forensic tools to track the stolen vehicle’s location data, linking Jenkins to the crime scene. He is also tied to a previous armed robbery where a car was stolen and used in multiple robberies throughout the night.
The victim of the earlier robbery received texts from her stolen phone, leading police to discover Jenkins’ Instagram account, “bigmike1500.” This account was linked to Jenkins, who is now facing charges of attempted murder, armed robbery, possession of stolen vehicles, possession of a weapon, and identity theft.
Jenkins is the eighth person this year to be charged with committing a violent crime while on pretrial release. This case adds to a series of reports highlighting individuals accused of committing crimes while awaiting trial for felony charges. The number of such incidents is likely higher than reported, as not all cases result in charges being filed.
This story underscores the need for effective monitoring of individuals on pretrial release and the importance of addressing recidivism in the criminal justice system. Jenkins’ case serves as a reminder of the challenges in balancing public safety with the rights of those awaiting trial.
