Armed Robber Nabbed for Robbing Same Homewood Store Twice: Prosecutor

Lamarkee Lewis, 20 | Cook County Sheriff

Homewood, IL, June 1, 2016 -- A Tinley Park man has been charged in a string of south suburban armed robberies, including a thwarted attempt at an Oak Forest Shell station, prosecutors said Wednesday in court.

Lamarkee Lewis, 20, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a charge of attempted armed robbery. Lewis has also been charged with robbing the same 7-Eleven store twice in Homewood.

The prosecutor said that Lewis walked into the the Shell station at 16702 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Forest, around noon on May 9, and pointed a black handgun at the clerk.

The clerk was able to barricade himself and the cash register away from Lewis, who left the gas station without taking anything, according to the charges.

Lewis was later arrested on May 19 on an unrelated charge. He allegedly made admissions to Oak Forest police and identified himself in store surveillance video, after which he was charged with attempted armed robbery.

The prosecutor said it appeared that the weapon was a replica BB gun. The gun was not recovered.

Lewis has also been charged with two counts of armed robbery, for which he allegedly held up 7-Eleven Store at 18747 Dixie Highway, Homewood, on May 9 and and May 19.

In those robberies, Lewis got away cash, cigars, lighters and candy, according to court records. Both of those cases are being heard in the Cook County Sixth Municipal District Courthouse in Markham.

Judge Felice set bail for the Oak Forest case at $100,000. Lewis is also ordered to surrender any firearms to police, including any FOID card or conceal-carry permit.

The judge also asked for a source of funds should Lewis bond out.

Lewis’s next court hearing is June 9 in Bridgeview.