Suspects In 2022 Oak Lawn Home Invasion Arrested In Texas, Chicago

OAK LAWN, IL — The last suspect in last year's violent home invasion of a 71-year-old woman in Oak Lawn was apprehended Monday after a police chase in Texas. Anthony Mitchell, 31, of Chicago, is awaiting a hearing on local charges and extradition back to Illinois, where he is expected to be charged with home invasion.

On Jan. 5, the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force also arrested another suspect, 31-year-old Gregory Smith, in a Chicago apartment on suspicion of home invasion. Smith was charged with home invasion and 23 additional felonies, including unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and armed habitual offender.

On March 22, 2022, in the 10500 block of South Kenton, police said a 15-year-old girl pretending to sell candy for her school rang the woman’s front doorbell. The woman declined the offer to buy candy and closed the door. The doorbell rang a second time, and this time, a man with a gun was with the teen. He forced his way into the woman’s house, where they were joined by a third man, police said.

The woman was thrown to the floor and held at gunpoint by the teen, while the two men ransacked her house, according to police.

Nearby neighbors’ home security cameras captured the three running to a waiting car, where they made good on their escape. The 15-year-old girl was taken into custody last May and charged as a juvenile, police said. A fourth suspect was also arrested in May, but was released without being charged.

Home security image of suspects in March 2022 home invasion in Oak Lawn.

The FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force, Houston Police and Texas State Troopers located Mitchell and tried to arrest him for the home invasion, police said. According to authorities, Mitchell took off in a car and crashed it following a 40-minute pursuit through Houston, where he was taken into custody by law enforcement.

Oak Lawn police have been working non-stop on the case since the home invasion occurred, and they made their first arrest of the juvenile within weeks of the crime, village officials said. Assisting Oak Lawn in the early stages were the Evergreen Park and Midlothian Police, the Illinois State Police’s Crime Lab, and the Chicago Police Department.

Investigators conducted dozens of interviews, executed more than 10 search warrants, and used multiple modern technologies to gather the evidence needed to make the arrests.

“Our Village board and administration are in lock-step when it comes to crimes committed in Oak Lawn, especially violent crime,” said Oak Lawn Mayor Terry Vorderer, a retired Oak Lawn police officer of over 30 years. “We will spare no expense to bring these perpetrators to justice.” The mayor cited the Village’s recent installation of the Flock Security Camera system throughout the village that has led to multiple arrests.

“I said it before, but it bears repeating. This kind of incident literally hits home for every Oak Lawn resident and business,” 6th District Trustee Ralph Soch said, who lives in the neighborhood where the home invasion occurred. “The Oak Lawn Police Department is almost without peer when it comes to sending a message to would-be criminals. If you commit crimes in Oak Lawn, you will be brought to justice.”

Oak Lawn police are still investigating the case. Anyone with information about the home invasion is asked to call the Oak Lawn Police Detective Division at 708-907-4051, or TEXT information to 708-613-8477.