CHICAGO — Mayor Rahm Emanuel's teenage son was injured during a robbery near his home Friday night, a City Hall spokeswoman confirmed.
Two men approached a juvenile male in the 4200 block of North Hermitage Avenue about 10:05 p.m., said Officer Janel Sedevic, a Chicago Police spokeswoman. Police did not provide the boy's age.
The pair went through the boy's pockets, taking his cell phone before fleeing, Sedevic said.
Kelley Quinn, an Emanuel spokeswoman confirmed the mayor's 17-year-old son, Zach, was the victim of a robbery.
"Yesterday evening Mayor Emanuel's son Zach was assaulted in a robbery during which his phone was stolen. He sustained injuries that required medical treatment, but was able to join the family for a long planned trip," she said in an emailed statement. "The Mayor's focus is on his son's well-being, and as parents, he and Amy ask that the media respect their family's privacy at this time."
The Tribune, citing police reports, and the Sun-Times, citing a source, both reported Zach Emanuel suffered injuries, including a fat lip and a chipped tooth after being put in a chokehold and punched.
No one is in custody and Area North detectives are investigating.
While the mayor's house is constantly monitored by police, several attacks have occurred nearby.
In April, a man was robbed by someone who implied he had a weapon about a block from the Emanuel home. In February, a woman was attacked with bleach during an attempted robbery three blocks away.
Last month, two people were charged after allegedly burglarizing a car parked at the mayor's security detail's headquarters.
Sean Huston has lived in the home across from Emanuel since the summer of 2011 and said there's always a police car parked in front of the home. He was home watching college basketball when the robbery happened but didnt' hear much police activity, he said.
Though he's heard rumors of attacks around the neighborhood he's never heard of them on the block, he said.
"I've never heard of any of our neighbors being robbed or garages being broken into. I assume somebody didn't know they were on camera or robbing the mayor's son," Huston said.
Neighbors said they feel safe - but not untouchable - on the block.
"It's nothing new," said Dan Hill. "I tell people that all the time. We live across from the mayor, but that makes no difference."
Laurel Cherochak was walking her dogs around the neighborhood around 10 p.m. Friday, but didn't witness the robbery or its aftermath. She has incorporated the block in her daily route when walking her dogs intentionally because of the police presence, she said.
"It could've easily been us," she said. "I've never felt nervous before. I don't think [this] changes my mind."
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