Police: Video shows men following couple hit on LSD

Eric Horng Image
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Video shows robbers before LSD crash
The men were captured on police pod camera.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Police released video Monday that they say supports the claim that an attempted robbery led to a woman being fatally struck by a vehicle on Lake Shore Drive early Sunday in the Gold Coast.

The video shows a group of about seven or eight men - in their late teens or early 20s - and was captured by a police pod camera moments before the encounter.

Pamela Johnson, 32, and her 43-year-old boyfriend fled into Lake Shore Drive to evade the men early Sunday morning, the boyfriend told police. Johnson died of her injuries. The boyfriend sustained minor injuries.

Police are looking for the men.

On Monday, the boyfriend - who did not want his identity revealed - said the couple were walking around the Gold Coast and Streeterville neighborhood at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday - enjoying the night and each other's company.

The boyfriend, who attended a press conference in the Calumet Heights neighborhood, said at least one of the would-be robbers had a gun and, he says, began stalking them.

"Now you've got people chasing us. Now they got guns. We had no choice but to flee into Lake Shore Drive," he said.

Police said the offenders continued to chase Johnson and her boyfriend, even scaling a barrier in pursuit of the couple.

Johnson, a mother of a 12-year-old son, was struck and killed by a pickup truck in the southbound lanes.

Police and Johnson's loved-ones said they hope someone recognizes the men in these photos.

"We're asking the public to put it on social media, where ever you can put it, to show images of these perpetrators," said Andrew Holmes, a community activist.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Chicago Survivors tip line at 1-800-883-5587 or 1-800-UTELLUS.

"What they're doing now is moving toward the downtown area, the Gold Coast. What they think is safe is not safe down there anymore," the boyfriend said.