A Gary teen is one of three young men arrested and charged in a carjacking in Downers Grove, Illinois, according to a release from the DuPage County, Illinois, sheriff and state’s attorney.
Tremaine Nelson, 18, of the 2400 block of Rhode Island Court, and two co-defendants were denied pretrial release on Sunday after being charged the previous day with robbing a Downers Grove man of his property and his vehicle at gunpoint, according to the release.
The other two defendants are Javari Williams, 18, of Harvey, Illinois, and Tyray Hemphill, 22, of Chicago.
The three men had an initial court appearance Sunday and are each charged with one count of Armed Robbery with a Firearm; one count of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking with a Firearm; and one count of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking – victim over 60, all Class X felonies.
At approximately 6:50 p.m., on Sept. 27, DuPage County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to 36th and Fairview Avenue in unincorporated Downers Grove for a report of an armed robbery of a motor vehicle that had just occurred, officials said in the release.
After speaking with the victim, a man over 60 years old, authorities learned that a black 2006 Dodge Charger was allegedly involved in the robbery. The Downers Grove Police Department arrived and was able to locate the Charger and the victim’s vehicle, a 2006 Silver Chrysler 300 SRT, in the area.
Officers began pursuing the two vehicles and after a short time, the Charger crashed at Route 83 in Hinsdale. After crashing, four occupants of the Charger allegedly exited the vehicle and began walking northbound on the shoulder of Route 83. A Hinsdale police officer approached the four individuals at which time three of them, later identified as the defendants, climbed over a wooden fence and fled while the fourth individual allegedly claimed that he was the victim of a robbery and ultimately escaped law enforcement.
The Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies immediately established a perimeter and took the three defendants into custody after a brief search. It is alleged that Nelson was located in a window well in the 500 block of N. Quincy Avenue, Hinsdale. It is further alleged that officers found a loaded Glock 23 semi-automatic .40-caliber handgun with one bullet in the chamber in the same window well.
Officials said the alleged carjacking occurred after the victim put his car up for sale online, and the defendants ran after him with their guns drawn.
“It is further alleged that the defendants then pointed their guns at the victim’s head, back and groin and went through his pockets stealing his wallet, car keys, a gold chain, a watch and cell phone. It is further alleged that the defendants then pushed the victim to the ground, told him “don’t (expletive) move,” and then fled in the victim’s car and the Charger, which also was reported as stolen, according to the release.
“The allegations that Javari Williams, Tremain Nelson and Tyray Hemphill violently robbed an innocent man of his car, pointing three guns at him, and tried to hide in a residential neighborhood, are frightening,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release.
An investigation into the matter continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office at (630) 407-2400.
The next court date for all three defendants is scheduled for October 28, 2024, for arraignment.
