STORY YOUMISSED
Chicago Police arrested two teenagers for a violent crime spree that left two men dead.
Marquese Hill, age 18, and a 17-year-old boy were taken into custody on Thursday.
Both suspects face multiple counts of first-degree murder and aggravated vehicular hijacking.
The violence began in the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 11.
The first attack happened just before 4:00 a.m. in the 700 block of West Waveland.
Suspects targeted 22-year-old Darwin Tirado and a 38-year-old man in the Lakeview neighborhood.
Tirado was shot and killed during the hijacking of their vehicle. (READ MORE: Chicago Crime: 22-Year-Old Shot and Killed in Lakeview Carjacking Identified)
The 38-year-old passenger survived the encounter without physical injuries.
The violence continued less than one hour later in the Oakland neighborhood.
Police say the pair shot and killed 45-year-old Damon Kellum in the 3700 block of South Lake Park Avenue.
Officers located a vehicle nearby that matched the description of the car stolen in Lakeview.
The suspects then moved to the Fuller Park neighborhood on the South Side.
They allegedly tried to take a car at gunpoint from a 70-year-old man on South Wentworth Avenue.
That attempt failed, but the spree did not end there.
Just after 5:10 a.m., the duo carjacked a 38-year-old man in West Chatham.
The final hijacking of the morning occurred in the 8600 block of South Lafayette Avenue.
Investigators also linked Marquese Hill to a separate crime from earlier this year.
Hill is charged with a January 10 carjacking in the West Rogers Park neighborhood.
That incident took place around 4:00 a.m. in the 7500 block of North Claremont Avenue.
Hill is scheduled to appear in court at 2600 South California on Saturday.
The 17-year-old suspect is also due in court on Saturday at the juvenile center on Hamilton Avenue.
Recent History
This spree highlights a dangerous trend of early-morning vehicular hijackings across the city.
The Lakeview neighborhood has seen a rise in “crime of opportunity” reports over the last six months.
Residents in the 19th District have repeatedly called for increased patrols during the overnight hours.
Similar violent carjackings were reported in the nearby North Side neighborhoods late last year.
Oakland and West Chatham have also struggled with an increase in armed robberies involving stolen vehicles.
The 2nd District, where Damon Kellum was killed, has implemented several “anti-carjacking” task force missions.
Community leaders say these “spree” style crimes are becoming more frequent among younger offenders.
Police continue to urge residents to remain aware of their surroundings, even in residential areas.
