$1M Bond For Man In Carjacking, Robbery Of Elderly Uber Driver: NLPD

NEW LENOX, IL — A 19-year-old Chicago man is being held on $1 million bond in connection to the armed robbery and carjacking of a 71-year-old Uber driver in New Lenox last week, police said Monday. A 17-year-old boy was also arrested and charged in the crime, police said. A third suspect remains at large.

New Lenox Police say Timothy Gaines and the unnamed juvenile pistol-whipped, robbed and carjacked the Uber driver while he was waiting for a passenger in the early morning hours of June 20.

The two are accused of threatening the elderly driver with a gun and demanding his vehicle before yanking him from it and hitting him in the head with the weapon. The suspects took his money clip, phone, and keys before taking off in the man's car, police said.

They quickly abandoned the car after taking it— then fleeing in a stolen Hyundai Accent with a third suspect driving, police said. Later that night, police tracked that stolen car to Chicago, leading to a chase by Illinois State Police, which ultimately ended with three juveniles and an adult being taken into custody.

The four denied involvement in the New Lenox crime, police said. They were not charged locally, but face charges on different Chicago crimes. Officers said they found in that car masks believed to have been used in the New Lenox carjacking, along with the victim's money clip, but no arrests were made at that time in connection to the local crime.

Then, later last week, New Lenox police found pole camera footage from the day of the carjacking, taken in the area of 110th and Throop streets, in Chicago. The footage showed three men in clothing matching the description of the suspects. Police learned the men frequented a gas station at 111th and Racine Avenue, where employees recognized them in images.

Two of the suspects arrived at the gas station Friday, June 23— one wearing the same clothing from the night of the New Lenox crime, said New Lenox Police Chief Louis Alessandrini. A handgun with an extended magazine believed used in the New Lenox carjacking was also found in the car, along with other clothing matching descriptions.

The two suspects were taken into custody, and the car was towed back to the New Lenox Police Department for further investigation.

Gaines was charged with three counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking, four counts of armed robbery, three counts of attempted aggravated vehicular hijacking and one count of aggravated battery. He is being held on $1 million bond at the Will County Adult Detention Facility.

The 17-year-old male is charged with three counts of aggravated vehicle hijacking, four counts of armed robbery, three counts of attempted aggravated vehicular hijacking, one count of aggravated battery, and one count of unlawful use of a weapon. He is in custody at the River Valley Justice Center in Joliet. The state's attorney is considering if he will be tried as an adult, Alessandrini said.

A third suspect remains at large, he said.

"We have solid leads on this individual, we hope to have him in custody soon," Alessandrini said.

He emphasized that the resident who requested the Uber ride had no connection to the crime.

The four found in the stolen Hyundai Accent also had no ties to the carjacking, he said.

"I'd like to thank Illinois State Police, Chicago Police Department for their assistance, Will County State's Attorney's office, as well," Alessandrini said in a press conference Monday.

"Most importantly, I'd like to thank the members of this great department. Many who have put in long hours, some of who are standing behind me at this moment, others who couldn't be here today. Without their hard work, their dedication, and their professionalism, we would not be standing here in front of you telling you of two arrests.

"I'd also like to thank the community—everyone that called, provided Ring camera footage, or just information on this case, it was instrumental, as well. So thank you to the community."

The victim is recovering from his head injury, New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann said.