Paroled Gun Offender Arrested for Armed Carjacking Linked to Social Media Posts
A paroled gun offender, Fredrick Buchanan, 20, has been incarcerated by Chicago police detectives after being connected to an armed carjacking through his social media activity, officials revealed.
Having been on parole since December for two gun charges, Buchanan is now facing allegations of being one of four armed individuals involved in carjacking a 66-year-old man last month.
The incident took place around 1:11 p.m. on March 4 in the 4400 block of South Berkeley, where masked gunmen approached the victim in a Nissan Maxima with stolen plates. The assailants demanded the keys to the victim’s red BMW X3 while Buchanan reportedly took $200 in cash from the victim’s pocket.
Through a detective’s review of surveillance footage, it was noted that the firearm carried by one of the carjackers matched the gun seen in videos shared on Buchanan’s Instagram account. Additionally, social media posts highlighted Buchanan’s presence in the Nissan Maxima used during the carjacking. Further evidence linking Buchanan to the crime was discovered during a search of his phone following a warrant execution.
While Buchanan has also been associated with another armed carjacking incident on March 10 in the 7900 block of South Ingleside, he has not been formally charged in connection with that case.
Judge James Costello ordered Buchanan’s detention, citing his extensive history of firearms offenses and violent behavior. State authorities are considering a review of Buchanan’s parole status in light of the recent allegations.
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Tim Hecke is CWBChicago’s managing partner. With a background in radio journalism, Tim has worked in various major cities before joining CWBChicago in 2019 as the managing partner.
Contact Tim at tim@cwbchicago.com
