Pedestrian robbed at gunpoint, fleeing suspects fire shot at officers, according to police

Updated at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17: Local authorities apprehended three males following the armed robbery of a 63-year-old Tuesday morning, Aug. 16, on Central Avenue, according to a press release from the Wilmette Police Department.

The release says that after the robbery at 5:16 a.m. in the 400 block of Central Avenue, three fleeing suspects crashed an SUV — a 2018 GMC Terrain — and one of them fired a gunshot “in the direction” of police officers.

Neither police or the alleged victim were injured, but one of the alleged offenders was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the release.

Police charged two juveniles — a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, both of Chicago — with armed robbery and possession of a stolen vehicle. The 17-year-old was also charged with unlawful use of a weapon. An adult male was also in custody with charges pending further investigation, according to police. The three alleged offenders are not related, Wilmette Police Cmdr. Michael McGarry said.

During the robbery, police say that the two juveniles approached an individual walking along the sidewalk near 4th Street and Central Avenue in Wilmette. The 17-year-old reportedly presented a handgun. The boys then allegedly took the individual’s cellphone, car keys and identification before entering an awaiting vehicle.

Within five minutes, the release says, Wilmette police officers located the vehicle near 10th Street and Central and “attempted a traffic stop.” The vehicle reportedly fled north and flipped after striking a barricade in the parking lot of 1630 Sheridan Road,” a mid-rise residential complex along the lake, according McGarry.

A gunshot allegedly was fired through the windshield of the crashed vehicle and toward officers.

“No one was struck by the round and officers did not fire their weapons,” it says in the release.

Wilmette officers reportedly waited for backup from Kenilworth, Northfield, Glencoe and Winnetka police before approaching the car and apprehending the three males “without further incident.”

Police say the car was stolen from Winnetka on Aug. 14, and from it, police reportedly recovered the property allegedly stolen from the individual, as well as two semi-automatic handguns.

Stay tuned to TheRecordNorthShore.org as this story develops.

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