COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A Marquette Park man who was robbed while trying to illegally buy a gun called police to report the crime, prosecutors said Tuesday.
The 22-year-old had arranged via FaceTime to pay $350 for a Glock handgun and extended magazine, Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Cooper said during a bond hearing.
But when the man met with three sellers in Auburn Gresham, they kept his cash and the gun, prosecutors said.
It all went down about 5:30 p.m. Sunday in the 8600 block of South Wolcott Avenue.
William McCrea, 21, had previously showed the victim the gun on FaceTime, prosecutors said, and the pair agreed on a price.
On Sunday afternoon, McCrea and two others — his brother Anphanine McCrea, 17, and Rakim Smith, 18, — pulled up in a black Lexus. When the victim got in the car and handed over cash, Cooper said, Anphanine McCrea pointed the gun at the man.
The victim jumped out of the car and ran off, according to prosecutors. He then called 911 and reported a robbery.
A half-hour later, police saw the Lexus blow a stop sign near 81st Street and Damen Avenue, police said. When officers tried to pull over the car, the driver kept going.
The Lexus stopped near 76th Street and Damen Avenue, police said, and officers asked all three occupants to step outside. While officers were talking to the trio, a call came over the radio mentioning an armed robbery involving a black Lexus.
Police found in the car a loaded Glock handgun with 32 bullets, court records show.
William McCrea, who was carrying $500 cash, admitted to the robbery, authorities said
The victim identified each of the alleged robbers, Cooper said, adding that he never handled the gun. Police said the man trying to buy the gun was not charged.
William and Anphanine McCrea, of the 1400 block of East 69th Street, were each charged with armed robbery. The brothers' attorney said Anphanine, who was charged as an adult, is a junior in high school, while Williams is a senior at an alternative high school.
Smith, of the 7000 block of South Dorchester Avenue, was charged with armed robbery and fleeing police, and ticketed for failing to stop at a stop sign. His attorney said he's a senior at Excel Academy Chicago.
Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas ordered each held on $150,000 bail.
"If you bond out," Chiampas warned, "no FaceTime, no Facebook. Nothing."
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