On Thursday, Sept. 23, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police Michael Rivas announced that bond had been set at $2 million with 10% to apply for two individuals charged with carjacking a 35-year-old woman at gunpoint. Kentrell Strong, 18, of Chicago, and Rayshawn Marshall, 18, also of Chicago, appeared at a bond hearing in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell.
On Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 1:54 a.m., officers with the Villa Park Police Department responded to a call on Ardmore Avenue regarding a carjacking. An investigation into the matter revealed that the victim was sitting in the driver’s seat of her vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee, which was parked in her driveway, when two male subjects wearing hoodies and face masks allegedly approached the vehicle. It is alleged that one of the subjects asked the victim the time of day and then opened her car door and began to pull her out of the car. The second male subject then allegedly pointed a gun at her face. It is further alleged the two men pulled the victim out of the car and drove off in the victim’s car.
Elmhurst police officers observed the Jeep Cherokee on North Avenue and attempted to stop the car. The offenders refused to stop and continued driving at a high rate of speed onto I-290 eastbound. Police officers from multiple agencies, including Hillside, Maywood, Bellwood, Berkeley and Broadview all responded and helped chase the victim’s car. The offenders got off I-290 on the 25th Avenue ramp and crashed the victim’s car before fleeing on foot. Both subjects were taken into custody by Broadview police officers approximately 500 yards from the victim’s car.
“The charges and $2 million bail in this case once again sends a loud and clear message that in DuPage County, we will not put up with this type of random, violent behavior,” said Berlin. “I would like to commend the Villa Park Police Department on their truly outstanding work on this case and I thank the Bellwood, Maywood, Berkeley, Hillside and Broadview Police Departments for their assistance in taking the alleged offenders into custody. The swift apprehension of these two men demonstrates DuPage County law enforcement’s commitment to public safety and sends the message that in DuPage County if you commit the type of violent crime alleged in this case you will be caught and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Denis Cahill for his work in preparing a strong case against each of these defendants.”
“Perpetrators who commit a vehicular hijacking i.e., ‘car-jacking’ typically take that vehicle from a victim by force. In this case a weapon was shown to our victim, leaving her visibly shaken and in great fear of bodily harm. This, or any other, stolen vehicle is then used at a later time to commit other violent crimes. This is why it is critically important to arrest people who commit this type of crime. We would like to acknowledge the tireless hard work performed by the Villa Park Officers and Investigators; as well as the numerous other law enforcement agencies who were vital in taking the subjects into custody. We would also like to thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office for working in lockstep to bring about these charges. Let this case send a message we will exhaust all resources to bring violent offenders to justice,” said Rivas.
Both Strong and Marshall have been charged with one count of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking, a Class X Felony, and one count of Aggravated Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, a Class 1 Felony.
If found guilty, Strong and Marshall face a penalty of between 21 and 45 in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The next court appearance for Marshall is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 20. Strong’s next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 21.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendants’ guilt.
