An 18-year-old suspect has been charged with carjacking a driver in the Loop two years ago, when he was still a juvenile, according to Chicago police. The arrest was made at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, suggesting that the suspect may have other pending juvenile cases.
The carjacking incident took place on September 24, 2023, and was linked to a separate crime that occurred just minutes earlier. A group known as the “Kia Boys” stole a Chicago police officer’s personal vehicle outside City Hall. The term “Kia Boys” refers to auto thieves who target Kia and Hyundai vehicles due to security vulnerabilities. The officer’s Hyundai Tucson was stolen after the suspects broke a window in the 100 block of North LaSalle Street.
The stolen Tucson was later found abandoned with its steering column stripped in the vicinity of an armed carjacking incident that occurred a few blocks away. In that incident, the carjacking victim witnessed five armed men exiting a stolen Hyundai and grabbing a 21-year-old woman on the sidewalk. The victim attempted to intervene but was assaulted and robbed by the suspects, who then fled in his Toyota. Both victims sustained minor injuries and sought treatment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Following the trail of abandoned vehicles, law enforcement located the stolen Toyota in the 1200 block of West Fullerton Avenue near DePaul University’s Lincoln Park campus. The 18-year-old suspect is facing charges of aggravated vehicular hijacking and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Due to the case being prosecuted as a juvenile matter under state law, the suspect’s identity has not been disclosed by the Chicago Police Department.
This information was independently verified by CWBChicago through police reports. The original reporting sheds light on critical incidents that may not be covered elsewhere, thanks to the support of our readers. To continue supporting our work, please click here.
