Charges Announced In Palos Heights 7-Eleven Attempted Armed Robbery

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — Two of the three participants in an armed robbery interrupted at a convenience store early Friday have been charged. Palos Heights police said.

Lejuan R. Pouncy, 22, of Riverdale, and 24-year-old Brandon Smith, of Chicago, have both been charged with one felony count of attempted armed robbery. Smith is currently in Chicago police custody, while Smith is being held in Hammond, Ind. Both are believed involved in multiple crimes around the Chicago region.

Early Friday morning, police in the area were notified of n attempted vehicle theft near Southwest Highway and Harlem Avenue. Minutes before, an armed robbery occurred in the 11400 block of Harlem Avenue. Police said both incidents involved two men armed with handguns.

>>> 3 Flee When Cop Interrupts 7-Eleven Armed Robbery: Palos Heights PD

Just after 2 a.m. Friday, a Palos Heights police officer driving through the parking lot of 7-Eleven, 6350 W. 135th St., noticed a man pointing a gun at en employee inside the store. When the man noticed the law, police said he alerted a second man who was in the store manager’s office. Both ran out the back door. The officer then saw a black Chrysler 200 turning westbound on 135th Street from a neighboring residential street that appeared to be fleeing the scene.

Police said the officer was unable to curb the vehicle, which stopped momentarily and then took off. The officer said the vehicle was being driven by a woman. A description of the car was broadcast to police in the area.

Chicago police notified Palos Heights that they had Pouncy in custody for unrelated charges. Police also learned that Smith and a woman were being held by police in Hammond, Ind. The woman has yet to be charged, police said.

Throughout the day on Friday, Palos Heights detectives conducted interviews with Pouncy and witnesses. Police said they were able to collect evidence not only of the Palos Heights robbery, but also evidence linking Pouncy and the vehicle to several other area robberies.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved felony charges against both men. Smith is currently waiting to be extradited back to Illinois from Indiana. Both have yet to formally processed for the Palos Heights robbery, police said.