Charges filed against 7 accused in deadly crash while allegedly fleeing from smash-&-grab burglary downtown

Charges filed against 7 accused in deadly crash while allegedly fleeing from smash-&-grab burglary downtown
Charges filed against 7 accused in deadly crash while allegedly fleeing from smash-&-grab burglary downtown
CHICAGO (WGN) — Felony charges have been filed against seven men accused in a deadly crash along the Magnificent Mile just moments after they allegedly fled the scene of a smash-and-grab burglary at a high-end retail shop.

The charges against the men stem from their alleged involvement in a string of incidents that allegedly began around 5 a.m. Thursday, at the Louis Vuitton store near the 100 block of East Walton Street.

Chicago police provided the following list of names and charges each of the seven men is facing in connection with the alleged incident:

  • Dejuan Wingard, 30, of Chicago, has been charged with murder, burglary, theft, and reckless homicide.
  • Darius Bowdry, 30, of Chicago, has been charged with murder, theft, burglary, a misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing a peace officer, and three counts of issuance of a warrant.
  • Keller McMillan, 35, of Chicago, has been charged with murder, burglary, theft, and three counts of fugitive from justice with an out-of-state warrant.
  • Alton Jackson, 37, of Chicago, has been charged with burglary, theft, and murder.
  • Anthony Hemphill, 22, of Chicago, has been charged with burglary, theft, and murder.
  • Harvey Fisher, 26, of Chicago, has been charged with murder, burglary, and theft.
  • Keith Perkins, 19, of Orland Hills, has been charged with murder, burglary, and theft.
Harvey fisher left), anthony hemphill (center left), keith perkins (center right), and alton jackson (right), and three other individuals have all been charged in connection with a smash-and-grab burglary and deadly crash along the magnificent mile.

According to police, the men were allegedly part of a group that used a pickup truck to smash through the front window of the Louis Vuitton store downtown.

Sources close to the investigation said the alleged thieves then stole nearly $180,000 worth of merchandise before fleeing the scene in multiple vehicles, leaving the pickup truck behind.

As the suspects fled from the area, officers said one of the groups that was allegedly traveling in a Kia Stinger crashed into a Honda CR-V near the intersection of East Ohio Street and Michigan Avenue, just around the corner from the store.

(photo: roanne masangkay)

The driver of the Honda, who was later identified as 40-year-old Mark Carlo Arceta of Skokie, was killed in the crash.

Following the crash, five people inside the Kia were taken into custody.

As offices responded to the first crash scene, a separate group of officers responded to a crash involving a second vehicle, an Audi Q50, in the southbound lanes of Lake Shore Drive near the Museum Campus.

According to police, officers watched the Audi as it allegedly fled from the scene, but the driver eventually lost control of the vehicle along Lake Shore Drive.

Officers said they were able to locate and arrest two individuals who allegedly fled from the vehicle. Officers also allegedly recovered stolen goods from the vehicle.

Police said stolen goods were allegedly recovered from both crash scenes.

All seven are expected to appear in court on Saturday for a detention hearing.

Authorities did not provide booking photos for Wingard, Bowdry or McMillan.


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