Man Tied To Justice Shooting Nabbed After Pursuit In Oak Lawn: Police

OAK LAWN, IL — An Oak Lawn man driving a vehicle that was involved in a shooting was nabbed after a high-speed police chase Saturday afternoon, police said.

Around 1:47 p.m., Oak Lawn patrol units were alerted through the Flock license plater readers that a vehicle wanted out of Justice had entered Oak Lawn. Police said the vehicle, a Chevy Impala, had been involved in a shooting, where the driver later identified as Yousef Qasem, 27, had discharged a gun.

Two Oak Lawn patrol officers spotted the Impala traveling eastbound on 87th Street at Ridgeland Avenue. When officers activated their lights and tried to curb the vehicle, police said Qasem took off and fled northbound on Central Avenue.

As the car entered Burbank, it increased its speed so Oak Lawn police disengaged, shutting off their lights and sirens. Police said the Impala ignored the red light at 83rd Street and Central and struck a vehicle in the intersection causing both vehicles to stop.

The innocent driver was able to exit his vehicle without assistance, while police said Qasem refused to get out of his car. Police said Qasem refused to follow officer’s commands. Officers had to break Qasem’s passenger window to take him into custody, police said.

Officers found a loaded 9mm firearm along with several types of narcotics in the vehicle, according to a police news release.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved two felony charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding and one felony charge of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon. Qasem was also charged with numerous misdemeanor charges and traffic citations.

Qasem is currently under police guard at a local hospital before he is medically released and transported to the Bridgeview Courthouse for a detention hearing. Police said Qasem was also arrested by Oak Lawn police in November for fleeing and eluding, in addition to unlawful use of a weapon.