A Second Man Charged in Violent Robbery and Kidnapping Spree Across Chicago
A second man has been charged in connection with a series of violent robberies and kidnappings that have rocked Chicago in recent weeks. Chicago police suspect that the crew may have committed as many as 28 holdups across the city, although so far, the men are only charged with four of the crimes.
Tmajhae Cole, 18, is believed to have served as the driver for the crew, speeding recklessly through the city, running red lights, and evading police. Prosecutors allege that Cole was involved in multiple incidents where kidnapped victims were held in the back seat of the car as the crew carried out their crimes. Earlier this month, 21-year-old Marquis Terry, a parolee, was also charged in connection with the same crime spree.
The first reported attack took place on November 19 in the 1700 block of North Keeler. A 38-year-old man was targeted as he approached a stop sign, only to be confronted by three armed men who forcibly removed him from his vehicle and assaulted him.
The victim, who struggled to communicate with the attackers due to a language barrier, was robbed of his personal belongings including his wallet, passport, and phone. Surveillance footage captured the harrowing incident.
Subsequent attacks followed a similar pattern, with victims being threatened and assaulted before being forced into the crew’s vehicle. The group then proceeded to various banks in an attempt to withdraw money from the victims’ accounts, using violence and intimidation to coerce them into compliance.
Authorities were able to track the suspects’ movements through GPS data retrieved from their phones, linking them to the locations of the crimes. Both Cole and Terry are facing numerous charges including kidnapping, armed robbery, and aggravated battery.
Notably, Terry has a history of criminal activity, including a previous incident where he was found in possession of a stolen machine gun. Despite serving a prison sentence for this offense, he was released early due to credit earned during his time in jail.
The recent spate of violent crimes has shaken the community, prompting increased vigilance and cooperation with law enforcement efforts to apprehend those responsible.
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