2 Jewelry Store Employees Gunned Down In Brazen Little Village Robbery

CHICAGO — In a community already traumatized by ICE raids, two employees of a Little Village jewelry store were fatally shot during a robbery late Saturday afternoon, Chicago police said.

Around 5:49 p.m., Chicago police said a man entered a jewelry store at 26th Street and Springfield Avenue, and displayed a firearm. Less than 30 seconds later, surveillance video from a neighboring business obtained by ABC 7 Chicago showed a man running out of the store carrying items in his hands. He was pursued by two employees from the store, a 63-year-old man and a 25-year-old man.

The purported robber started firing shots at the two employees in the street, police said. The suspect was last seen getting into a white SUV and fled southbound on Springfield Avenue. No one is in custody. CPD Area Four detectives are investigating.

The older man suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his face, head and body. The 25-year-old man sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body. Both were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, where they were pronounced dead.

Cook County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects in the robbery.

“SENSELESS,” the crime stoppers said in a statement on Facebook. “This community is already going through a lot of trauma, businesses are struggling and now someone wants to take advantage and try’s to rob the store. Hardworking people who still has hope for their community try’s to protect the only thing they have to survive and gets gunned down.”

Anyone with information about the crime is encouraged to make an anonymous to the Cook County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-535-STOP (1-800-535-7867) or go online to CPDTIPS.com. If your information results in the arrest, you’re eligible for a cash reward up to $10,000.

Also read:

• Arrest Made In 2022 Jewelery Store Robbery Where Owner Was Shot: OLPD
• Reichman Jewelers Calls It Quits In Oak Lawn: 'It's Too Dangerous'