Felony charges filed against 2 men accused in shootout with off-duty officer on Far South Side

CHICAGO (WGN) — Two Chicago men are facing a slew of felony charges in connection with an alleged crime spree last summer that eventually led to a shootout with an off-duty police officer on the city’s Far South Side.

According to Chicago police, the two men, 21-year-old James Robinson and 21-year-old Angel Contreras are each facing a handful of felony charges in connection with the alleged crime spree and shootout.

An initial report by police indicated that the shooting happened just after 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, when the two men allegedly attempted to carjack and rob the off-duty officer in the 10800 block of South Campbell Avenue in West Morgan Park.

A home security camera in the area captured a dark-colored vehicle speeding down the street shortly before gunfire could be heard. An individual can then be seen running from 108th and South Campbell and officers believe that person was one of the suspected shooters.

While the officer’s vehicle was hit by gunfire, the officer was not injured in the shootout and one suspect was taken into custody, but later released.

The incident also sparked a COPA investigation and the off-duty officer was placed on a paid 30-day administrative leave, in accordance with department policy.

Just before the shootout, officers said the two men allegedly attempted to carjack and rob a 42-year-old woman in the 10900 block of South Oakley Avenue.

According to police, the crime spree continued after they fled the scene of the shooting and officers believe the two men allegedly robbed and carjacked two others in Lansing later that morning.

The two men evaded police for nearly a year after the alleged shootout, but CPD officers, with the help from the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, eventually tracked them down on Thursday in the 2600 block of South California Avenue in Little Village.

Officers said Robinson has been charged with one felony count of attempted first-degree murder, eight felony counts of armed robbery with a firearm, five felony counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm, four felony counts of aggravated robbery with the indication of a firearm, two felony counts of attempted armed robbery, one felony count of armed robbery with the discharge of a firearm, one felony count of attempted aggravated vehicular hijacking with the discharge of a firearm and one felony count of attempted aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm.

Contreras has been charged with one felony count of attempted first-degree murder, three felony counts of armed robbery with a firearm, three felony counts of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm, two felony counts of attempted armed robbery, one felony count of attempted aggravated vehicular hijacking with the discharge of a firearm and one felony count of attempted aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm.

The additional charges against Robinson that Contreras is not facing stem from his alleged involvement in five other incidents that unfolded over a four-hour period just two days before the alleged shootout, on July 22, 2024, though specific details about the incident are unclear.

Both men are set to appear in court for a detention hearing on Friday.