Car Stolen At Gunpoint In Unincorporated Downers Grove; 3 Charged

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Three people face felony charges after a man's car was stolen at gunpoint in unincorporated Downers Grove Friday.

Javari Williams, 18, of Harvey, Tyray Hemphill, 22, of Chicago, and Tremaine Nelson, 18, of Indiana, were charged with armed robbery with a firearm, aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm and aggravated vehicular hijacking of a victim over 60 in connection with the incident.

DuPage County Sheriff's Office deputies were called to the intersection of Fairview Avenue and 36th around 6:45 p.m. for a report of an armed robbery. The victim told police their 2006 Silver Chrysler 300 SRT had been stolen and that the suspect vehicle may have been a 2006 Dodge Charger. The Charger was later found to have been reported stolen in Chicago.

The victim told police he had arranged to sell his car on Offer Up to a man who said his name was Reyes. The person who claimed to be Reyes walked with the victim down the street and Hemphill, Williams and Nelson pulled up in the Charger, police say.

According to a news release, the trio pointed guns at the victim's groin, head and back, then stole jewelry, a phone and car keys, while telling the victim "don’t f***ing move."

Shortly after the carjacking, Downers Grove Police found both cars and attempted to stop them. A pursuit then began, leading officers down Route 83, where the Dodge Charger crashed near Hinsdale.

Police say four people got out of the car and started to walk along Route 83. Hinsdale police caught up with Hemphill, Williams and Nelson, who then fled over a fence. The fourth person said they had been the victim of a robbery and then fled, according to prosecutors.

Officers say they found Nelson hiding in the window well of a house. They also reported finding a loaded Glock 23 semi-automatic .40 caliber gun in the window well.

Hemphil and Williams were taken into custody nearby, and police say they seized two more handguns.

“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 a statement.

Berlin added, “We are all thankful that the victim in this case was not physically harmed. The quick apprehension of the defendants in this case demonstrates DuPage County law enforcement’s commitment to public safety and willingness to work together to ensure the safety and security of all our residents."

Hemphill, Nelson and Williams are currently being held in DuPage County Jail and are set to appear in court Oct. 28.