Carjacking, Armed Robbery Charges Filed In Violent Lincolnwood Attack

SKOKIE, IL — A Cicero man turned himself in to Lincolnwood police Sunday and confessed to beating and carjacking a fellow teenager the day before, authorities said.

Joenny Montero-Tiburcio, 18, of the 1300 block of South 51st Avenue, faces charges of aggravated vehicular hijacking and armed robbery. A conviction for either offense carries a minimum sentence of six years in state prison.

Montero-Tiburcio and two accomplices took his father's Honda SUV to the BP gas station at the corner of Cicero and Touhy avenues shortly before midnight on Saturday night, prosecutors said at his initial court appearance Tuesday in Skokie.

Assistant State's Attorney Jenna Reinhardt said Montero-Tiburcio got out of the car, opened the passenger side door and began striking the 17- or 18-year-old victim with a bludgeon.

"The victim lost consciousness and was pulled out of the vehicle by [Montero-Tiburcio] who continued striking the victim in the face," Reinhardt said. "[Montero-Tiburcio] then entered the passenger side of the vehicle while the co-offender got into the driver's seat."

The Honda's license plate was clearly visible in surveillance footage from the gas station, which captured the whole attack, Reinhardt told the judge. Police traced the car back to Montero-Tiburcio's father who, when contacted, identified his son in surveillance footage.

Montero-Tiburcio admitted taking part in the carjacking and beating the passenger and stealing the car, Reinhardt said. The passenger, who declined medical attention at the scene, also later identified Montero-Tiburcio as his assailant, according to the prosecutor.

Cook County Judge Lorraine Murphy ordered Montero-Tiburcio to remain jailed until his next court appearance June 21 unless he can post the $5,000 cash portion of his bond.