Would-Be Thieves Fire Shots At Resident, Try To Carjack Young Mom

OAK LAWN, IL — Would-be car thieves fired shots at a witness during an attempted heist early Monday morning in Oak Lawn. This is the second time in as many weeks that car thieves shot at a vehicle owner or witness, police said. No injuries have been reported.

Just before 4:50 a.m., Oak Lawn police responded to the 5400 block of West 99th Place for a report of gunfire. A resident told police that they saw three men standing next to his neighbor’s 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

When the resident shined a light at the men, one of them began to fire shots from a handgun at the resident. Three rounds hit the front of the single family home. No one in the residence was injured.

After the shots were fired, the three men jumped into a blue Mercedes SUV that was parked on the street. The Mercedes fled east on 99th Place at a high rate of speed before striking a tree on the parkway by Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School. Dist. 123 schools were not in session Monday due to the Easter holiday. Oak Lawn police later learned that the Mercedes had been reported stolen April 15 out of Chicago.

When the SUV hit the tree, three men and the driver got out of the crashed Mercedes, police said they tried to carjack “an innocent mother” who happened to be driving south on Minnick Avenue with her young child moments after the crash. One of the four pointed a handgun at her, while another tried to open the passenger door of her vehicle, police said. In fear for her safety and her child’s, she accelerated and escaped unharmed.

Oak Lawn officers established a perimeter in the area. Bedford Park police brought in their police K9 to assist in the search, but the suspects could not be found and are believed to no longer be in the area.

Monday morning’s attempted heist is similar to an attempted vehicle theft that happened in the Airway Mobile Home Community at 91st and Cicero in the early morning hours of April 5. A resident saw that his Dodge Challenger was in the process of being stolen. When the resident stepped outside to confront the thieves, shots were fired at him and the suspects fled.

“It’s very concerning,” said Div. Chief Gerald Vetter, of the Oak Lawn Police Department. “We’re still investigating that one, too.”

“We ask that if you are a witness to an incident, and unless a life is being threatened, do not confront the offenders,” Oak Lawn police said in a written statement. “In Oak Lawn and in numerous other jurisdictions, these offenders have been found to be armed and have shown to have no regard for human life.”

Residents are asked to call 911 if they see anything suspicious and provide as much of a description of the incident that can be safely obtained. If possible, remain on the line with the dispatcher until police arrive.

Anyone with information about Monday's incident is asked to call the Oak Lawn Police Detective Division at 708-907-4051 or text tips to 708-613-8477. These incidents are being actively investigated.