COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — An East Garfield Park teen attempting to rob an elderly woman riding a motorized scooter dropped his gun on the foot of his victim before making off with her money, prosecutors said.
Terrell Betties, 16, of the 200 block of North California Avenue, was charged with armed robbery after prosecutors said he held up the 70-year-old woman as she waited for a bus in the 2800 block of West Fulton Street on May 16.
Betties targeted the woman after seeing her purchase items at a nearby gas station with a "large bill," prosecutors said.
When Betties approached the woman at the bus stop and placed the gun on her stomach, the woman claimed to have no money, prosecutors said. But Betties had seen her hide her change in a case hanging from her neck, prosecutors said.
"(Betties) followed the victim to the bus stop where he pulled out a chrome gun, placed it to the (woman's) side and demanded money," Assistant State's Attorney Beth Novy said. "The gun then slipped from the (Betties') hand and fell on the woman's foot."
He picked the gun up and pointed it at the woman while slipping the case from around her neck, Novy said.
Betties got away with more than $600, but the woman her robbed eventually identified him in a photo array and a lineup, prosecutors said. Betties was also captured on video surveillance following the woman out of the gas station.
A Cook County judge ordered Betties held on $300,000 bail Friday.
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