Man on Parole for Armed Robbery Accused of Threatening 13-Year-Old with Gun During Store Holdup
A recent incident in the Clearing neighborhood has left residents shocked and concerned as a man on parole for armed robbery is now facing charges for allegedly pointing a gun at a 13-year-old’s head during a convenience store holdup. Adam Butts, 37, was arrested in connection with the December 28, 2024, robbery of a 7-Eleven store at 6754 West 63rd Street, with prosecutors stating that the robbery was captured on surveillance cameras.
According to a detention petition, Butts entered the store, approached the counter, and reportedly pressed the gun against the child’s head while demanding cash from the register. Threatening to shoot if his demands were not met, Butts allegedly intimidated the cashier into handing over the money before fleeing the scene.
Investigators utilized surveillance footage to track Butts’ movements before and after the robbery, identifying him getting out of a vehicle registered in his name prior to the incident. Cell phone location data also allegedly placed him in the area at the time of the holdup, further linking him to the crime.
Butts’ criminal history reveals a pattern of violent offenses, with records from the Illinois Department of Corrections showing his parole in December 2023 following convictions for attempted vehicular hijacking, felon in possession of a firearm, and armed robbery in Peoria County dating back to 2010. Additional convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2009 and robbery of a victim older than 60 in 2006 further underscore his troubled past.
During a court hearing, Judge Luciano Panici Jr. ordered Butts to be detained pending trial on a charge of armed robbery, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations against him. The community remains on edge as they grapple with the implications of such a brazen and dangerous crime.
As the case unfolds, the community awaits justice and hopes for a resolution that ensures the safety and well-being of its residents. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
