KFC Robber Shot Employees Who Couldn't Open Cash Register: Police

(From left) Claude Jackson, Fatima Robertson, Joshua Scott, Chase West. Credit: Aurora Police Department.

Three Aurora men face multiple felonies in connection with the Thursday night armed robbery of a KFC restaurant in Aurora in which three people were shot, and the investigation also led to the arrest of a woman in connection with two other armed robberies.

Claude Jackson, 45, of the 1100 block of Liberty Street and Joshua O. Scott, 26, of the 1800 block of Thornapple Way, are each charged with three counts each of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm; and single counts of armed robbery and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, police said. Chase N. West, 19, of the 700 block of Columbia Street, is charged with three counts each of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm; and one count of armed robbery.

The charges were authorized late Saturday night by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, according to police.

Police allege that Jackson, who was armed with a ”rifle-type firearm,” and West entered the restaurant at about 8:25 p.m., announced the robbery, and ordered the three employees, all males, ages 17, 19, and 24, to the front of the store.

When Jackson discovered that none of the employees could open the cash register, he allegedly shot each person a single time, police said. Jackson and West then fled to a Cadillac Escalade allegedly driven by Scott that was parked in the rear lot of KFC and drove roughly eight blocks to Jackson’s Liberty Street home, which he shares with Fatima Robertson, 23, according to police.

A female employee was also at the restaurant at the time of the robberies, but was able to hide in a closet, police said.

Responding Aurora police officers and detectives recognized the M.O. of the robbery as similar to other recent armed robberies in Aurora and unincorporated Aurora, where Robertson had been looked at as a suspect, police said. A possible getaway vehicle, the Escalade, which is registered to Scott, had been mentioned in connection with those crimes, police said Sunday.

Aurora Police immediately contacted Kane County Sheriff’s deputies, and officers from both agencies responded to Jackson’s and Robertson’s home, where they found all four suspects within about 10 minutes of the robbery, police said.

Police said they were able to develop enough probable cause to detain Scott and West on the KFC robbery and located evidence linking Robertson to two other robberies.

Although Jackson was initially released at the Liberty Street home, as the investigation progressed, police were said they were able to link his alleged involvement in the KFC robbery. He was taken into custody at about 10:25 a.m. Friday, at a motel in the 2300 block of North Farnsworth Avenue.

Police executed a search warrant on the Liberty Street home, seizing a gun believed to be the one used in the KFC robbery, police said. The Escalade was also seized by police and is being processed for evidence.

Female suspect accused of tying up auto shop employees during robbery

Police said Robertson was also charged late Saturday with single counts of armed robbery in connection with the holdup of an auto repair shop on July 22 in the 1900 block of North Farnsworth in unincorporated Aurora; and a Mexican restaurant on Aug. 4 in the 400 block of Hinman Street in Aurora. In both of those incidents, she allegedly entered the stores with a male accomplice who was armed with a rifle-type weapon. In the auto shop robbery, two employees were tied up by the pair before the suspects made off with approximately $2,000, police said. In the Mexican restaurant robbery, the suspects weren’t able to get any cash as the two employees working at the time had locked themselves in an office when they saw the incident unfolding. Both of those investigations remain open to identify Robertson’s accomplice, police said.

Charging documents indicate that Robertson, Scott, and West are all on parole. No bond parole warrants have been issued for all three by the Illinois Department of Corrections, police said.

Bail was set at $2 million for both Robertson and Jackson; and $1.5 million for Scott and West Sunday morning at weekend bond call. Their next court dates were not immediately available.

The 19- and 24-year-old KFC employees were shot in the torso during the Thursday night robbery, while the 17-year-old was shot in the leg. All three are expected to survive, police said.