Group fires shots at Oak Lawn home, crashes stolen SUV and tries to carjack mother, police say
OAK LAWN, Ill. (WLS) -- Shots were fired and a group of people tried to carjack a mother in Oak Lawn on Monday morning, police said.
Oak Lawn police are investigating a report of shots fired at about 4:49 a.m. in the 5400 block of 99th Place, police said. A witness heard a loud noise, looked outside and saw what they described as three men next to his neighbor's 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. After shining a light at the offenders, one or more of the subjects began to fire shots from a handgun at the witness. Three rounds struck the front of the single-family home. None of its occupants were injured.
The group then entered a blue Mercedes SUV, reported stolen to the Chicago Police Department on April 15, that was parked on the street. They fled eastbound on 99th Place at a high speed before striking a tree on the parkway of the Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School, police said.
The group then attempted to carjack a woman who happened to be driving south on Minnick Avenue with her small child shortly after the crash, police said. When the group approached her, one pointed a handgun at her while another attempted to open the passenger side door of her vehicle. She accelerated and was able to escape unharmed.
SEE ALSO: 2 carjacking suspects in custody after police chase, crash in Oak Lawn, police say
Police searched the area, but no arrests have been made. Police posted on Twitter shortly after 6:30 a.m. that the scene remain active and for residents to remain indoors. At about 7:42 a.m., police said there was no longer a threat to the area.
Police said this was the second incident in the past two weeks in which someone tried to steal a car and fired shots at a victim or witness. Police asked that anyone who is a witness to an incident does not confront the offenders unless life is being threatened.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Oak Lawn Police Detective Division at (708)907-4051 or text tips to (708) 613-8477. These incidents are being actively investigated, police said.
