A 16-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy have been charged after they allegedly carjacked two separate victims at gunpoint in Waukegan which led to a police chase Thursday evening.
The first carjacking occurred around 9 p.m. Wednesday in the 1600 block of Berwick Boulevard and the second occurred around 6:15 p.m. Thursday in the 2000 block of Western Avenue, the Waukegan Police Department said.
During the first carjacking, a woman in her 20s told police that two black males, one of whom had a handgun, and a black female approached her white 2011 Chevrolet Equinox and took it by threat of force, Waukegan Police Commander Joe Florip said.
During the second carjacking, a man in his 50s told police that two black males and a black female, all who reported they were armed, approached his Honda CR-V and took it with threat of force.
Two of the three suspects drove off in the Honda CR-V but lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch, leaving it inoperable, Florip said. The third suspect then picked up the two suspects in the white 2011 Chevrolet Equinox, which was stolen the previous night, and fled the area.
Responding officers located the white 2011 Chevrolet Equinox and a police pursuit began. The Equinox struck a car near Green Bay Road and Sunset Avenue and continued northbound. The driver of that vehicle was not injured.
The three suspects abandoned the Equinox near Green Bay Road and York House Road in Beach Park before fleeing on foot. The Waukegan Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Zion Police Department established a perimeter in the area.
The female suspect was located by officers inside the perimeter of the search and taken into custody without further incident.
One of the male suspects went to a home in the 12000 block of York House Road in Beach Park and told the homeowners that he was involved in a car accident.
“The homeowners quickly realized something was not right and contacted the officers in the area. The male suspect was taken into custody, inside the home, without any further incident,” Florip said.
During the investigation, officers recovered ammunition and a black 9 mm handgun, which had been previously stolen from Wisconsin. The other male suspect fled the area and is not in custody.
The 17-year-old boy and the 16-year-old girl, both who are Waukegan residents, have each been charged with two counts aggravated vehicular hijacking, armed robbery, possession of a stolen firearm and resisting arrest.
The 17-year-old boy faces additional charges of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing and eluding and unlawful use of a weapon. The 16-year-old girl also faces a possession of firearm ammunition charge.
Both juveniles were transported to the Depke Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills. The Waukegan Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division continues to investigate the incident.