Suspects in carjacked Mustang lead CPD on high-speed chase though city

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Charges are pending against two carjacking suspects that led Chicago police on a high-speed chase through the city that lasted nearly an hour Thursday night.

The whole thing started near West 116th and South Church streets in Chicago's Morgan Park neighborhood, around 9:15 p.m. Police said two men, ages 21 and 22, were sitting in a lime green 2014 Ford Mustang when two other men forced them out at gunpoint and took off in the car.

Around four hours later, Illinois State Police spotted the Mustang and followed the suspects, but lost them near East Grand Avenue and North Lake Shore Drive.

The high-speed pursuit went as fast as 100 MPH and lasted almost 45 minutes, according to unconfirmed police radio chatter.

Dispatcher: "Southbound on Michigan approaching 51st street...100 mph"

Dispatcher: "Lime green Ford Mustang taken in an armed carjacking... Multiple units in pursuit."

The chase reached the North Side near North Avenue, where the Mustang turned off Lake Shore Drive only to get back on and head south.

Chicago police then spotted the Mustang at South Blue Island and South Damen avenues in the city's Heart of Chicago neighborhood. They followed the car more than 12 miles, to the 8700-block of South Union Avenue in Chicago's Gresham neighborhood. That's where police said the stolen car crashed into a parked car around 1:50 a.m., after driving the wrong way down a one-way street.

After the crash, the suspects jumped a fence and tried to run. But they were soon taken into custody. Charges are pending against them. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Tammera Vanderbilt owns the parked car. She told ABC7 Eyewitness News someone is watching over her. She usually works early mornings, but had Friday off.

"I guess it's just God's will. You just look out and that's how it is," Vanderbilt said.

If she was scheduled to work Friday, she might have been outside her home or getting into her car at the time of the crash. She said it was sheer luck that she wasn't there when it happened.

"It makes you a little bit weary and nervous about how you go in and out every day. I mean, I could have been where they could have just been - here and hijacked me!" Vanderbilt said.

"I'm kind of surprised that that happened. I really am. And I really want the carjackings to really stop," said Latasha Banks, who lives near the scene.

Vanderbilt said now, she may change her routine.

"Normally that's why I keep this gate locked and that gate locked. So that I can protect myself from that," Vanderbilt said. "I guess I'm going to have to start using the garage a little more."

Vanderbilt's car was not seriously damaged, but it was brand new.