18-Year-Old Charged In Brutal Armed Robbery That Triggered Deadly Hospital Shooting: CPD

CHICAGO—An 18-year-old Maywood man is accused of taking part in a brutal armed robbery that triggered the deadly chain of events with an alleged accomplice who later gunned down two Chicago police officers in a hospital.

Jeron Tate was identified as the unknown accomplice that participated in the armed robbery and aggravated battery of a 55-year-old employee inside a dollar store in the 3200 block of West Lawrence in the Albany Park (17th) District last Saturday.

Tate is facing felony charges of armed robbery with a firearm, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery/great bodily harm, and aggravated unlawful restraint.

According to details shared Thursday during the pre-detention hearing for Alphanse Talley, 26, who stands accused of fatally shooting Chicago Police Officer. John Bartholomew, 38, and critically wounded his partner.

Just after 8 a.m. last Saturday, surveillance cameras captured Talley and his alleged accomplice riding down Lawrence Avenue on rented electric scooters. A 55-year-old employee had just opened the dollar store in the 3200 block of West Lawrence.

Moments after the business opened, Talley and his alleged accomplice, later identified as Tate, entered the store. Both were wearing black jackets, black sweatshirts and black face masks. Tate was also wearing a yellow beanie hat, black pants, and white sneakers, according to court documents.

As the pair entered the store, the employee asked Tate to leave his backpack near the front door, per store policy. When the 18-year-old set the bag down, the prosecutor said Talley removed a gun from his waistband. Talley allegedly pointed the gun at the employee and forced her into the back office, where the prosecutor said Talley pistol-whipped the employee in her face. The gun Talley used was observed on surveillance video with a flashlight attached to it, that was later linked to the hospital double shooting.

While Talley continued to hold the employee at gunpoint in the office, Tate allegedly tried to open the cash register and safe. Talley demanded that the employee help open the cash register and safe, but she said she did not have a key to either, the prosecutor said.

As Talley shoved the gun into the employee’s face, the prosecutor said he and Tate rifled through her purse, taking her wallet and car keys. Talley allegedly hit the employee in her face a few more times, causing her to bleed. Talley dragged her over to the cash register, which she was able to open, the prosecutor said.

The pair is said to have grabbed $110 and, along with the proceeds from the employee's purse, absconded on their electric scooters.

Once the purported robbers fled the store, the employee pressed the panic button and called the police with the assistance of a customer. She provided police with a description of both suspects.

Meanwhile, in the minutes following the armed robbery, Talley and Tate were captured on private restaurant surveillance video fleeing on their Lime scooters. The prosecutor said both were tracked on multiple surveillance videos as they fled, and both eventually discarded their masks when they apparently became separated.

After ditching their masks and nine minutes after the armed robbery, Talley is shown abandoning the scooter in the 3400 block of North Troy Avenue. Unbeknownst to Talley, the stolen money had a GPS tracker, which eventually led Chicago police to his location.

The employee’s wallet was retrieved where Talley was seen on video tossing it into a garbage can. The prosecutor said she was brought to the area where she identified Talley as one of the alleged robbers, based on his clothing. She also identified her wallet. During a search of Talley on the scene, officers recovered a bundle of bloodstained cash from his pocket and also had what appeared to be blood on his pants and shoes, the prosecutor said.

The woman was transported by ambulance to a hospital, where she was treated for a broken nose and two black eyes. The prosecutor said the employee will need to follow up with a surgeon for further treatment of her broken nose.

Chicago police and the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force apprehended Tate on Thursday in the 7500 block of South Carpenter Street. Tate was scheduled for a pre-detention hearing Friday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.