3 Charged With 'Violent' Home Invasions In Wheaton, Lombard

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL — Three people have been charged in connection with a pair of home invasions in Wheaton and Lombard that DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin called "shockingly violent." In one instance, the trio was accused of breaking into a home and shooting a resident.

Malik Pitts, 22, of Broadview, Isaiah Johnson, 21, of Blue Island, and Keytori Jackson, 22, of Broadview, have been charged with attempted murder, home invasion and aggravated battery in connection with the Aug. 23 incidents.

Police say residents in the 1700 block of Evergreen Street woke around 5 a.m. to sounds outside their home and went outside to find Pitts and Johnson. Johnson is accused of pointing a gun at one of the residents as Pitts went into the home.

Pitts is accused of going into a girl's room and attempting to pull off her blankets and clothes. The girls' grandmother intervened, police say, and Pitts is accused of hitting the woman in her left ear, neck and cheek. The girl's father then fought Pitts, police say, before Pitts fled in a car that Jackson is accused of having stolen.

Around 5:22 a.m., Lombard police got a call of another home invasion and shooting on Highland Avenue. Police say that a homeowner woke up to Pitts and Johnson in his living room. Johnson is accused of pointing a gun at the resident and asking, "Where's the money?"

Pitts is then accused of ordering a mother and her daughter from an upstairs bedroom and demanding that the daughter undress. Police say the daughter refused and fled.

Pitts and the girl's father started to fight, according to police, and moved to the backyard of the home. Johnson is accused of firing two shots, one that hit a car and another that struck the father, went through him and also hit Pitts.

Authorities did not give the condition of the father who was shot.

"The conduct alleged in these charges is shockingly violent and demonstrates a complete disregard for our laws and for human life," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. "The victims in this case had every right to feel safe in their own home, the one place everyone should feel safe. That sense of safety has now been shattered. But the residents of DuPage County should take comfort in knowing they have some incredibly dedicated and talented police officers in their community who will do everything they can to protect the people of DuPage County. Make no mistake, today’s charges and no-bond orders send a loud and clear message to would-be criminals that if you commit violent crimes in DuPage County, you will be caught, you’ll be arrested and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Pitts and Johnson are being held without bond, and Jackson is being held on $500,000 bond. All three defendants are set to appear in court Sept. 28.