2 men charged in crime spree, engaging in shootout with off-duty Chicago police officer last year
Two Chicago men were charged with their participation in a crime spree last year, one of which led to a shootout with an off-duty police officer.
James Robinson, and Angel Contreara, both 21, were arrested on Thursday by Chicago police officers and members of the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force in the 2600 block of South California Avenue.
Robinson was charged with one 23 felonies, including attemped first-degree murder, eight counts of armed robbery with a firearm, five counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm, four counts of aggravated robbery with inidcation of a firearm, two counts of attempted robbery with a firearm, robbery with discharge of a firearm, and two counts of attempted vehicular hijacking, one with discharging of a firearm.
Contreras was also charged with 11 felonies, including attempted first-degree murder, three counts of armed robbery with a firearm, three counts of attempted robbery with a firearm, two counts of attempted robbery with a firearm, and two counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking, one with discharge of a firearm.
Police said the men were identified as two suspects who participated in multiple robbery-related incidents in July 2024. This includes the attempted killing of an off-duty Chicago police officer during an attempted carjacking and robbery on July 23, 2024, just after 5:30 a.m., in the 10800 block of South Campbell Avenue.
The men were also charged in connection with an attempted carjacking and robbery of a 42-year-old woman in the 10900 block of South Oakley Boulevard minutes later, and two robberies and carjackings later that morning in Lansing, Illinois, police said.
Robinson was also linked to five other incidents on July 22, 2024, involving several people at the following times and locations:
- 4 a.m. in the 6700 block of South Morgan - a 26-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man.
- 5:57 a.m. in the 7900 block of South Campbell Avenue - a 62-year-old woman.
- 6:30 a.m. in the 2800 block of West 79th Street - a 75-year-old man.
- 7 a.m. in the 8000 block of South Troy Street - a 43-year-old woman.
- 8 a.m. in the 2700 block of West 80th Street - two men, 39 and 41.
Both men are scheduled to appear at a detention hearing on Friday.
The video above is from a previous report.
