Oak Park and Forest Park police worked together to arrest a 20-year-old Oak Park man suspected of pulling a gun on two former high school baseball teammates after they offered him a ride home.
The two 19-year-old victims, from Forest Park and Hillside, told police they were returning home from class at Illinois Institute of Technology around 2 p.m. on March 27 when they offered a ride to a former classmate and teammate on the Proviso West High School baseball team.
The victims told police he asked for a lift to Harlem Avenue and Jackson Boulevard. Their former teammate, identified by police as Shaquille M. Harrell, 20, of the 1100 block of Harrison Street in Oak Park, allegedly pulled the vehicle into a parking lot behind Thornton’s Gas Station, 601 Harlem Ave.
As he was about to exit the car, according to Forest Park police, Harrell allegedly pulled out a black and silver handgun, pointed it toward one victim’s head and said, “Give me all your stuff!”
He then allegedly reached into their pockets and removed two cellphones and $200 cash. According to police, the victims said Harrell told them, “See that red car over there? My homies are in it and they are going to follow you, so get out of here!”
The victims told police they fled and did not see which way Harrell, who reportedly was dressed in blue checkered pajama pants and a blue hooded sweatshirt, left.
Oak Park police arrested Harrell around 11:30 p.m. on March 29 in the 700 block of South Harlem Avenue in Oak Park. A judge set bond for Harrell at $200,000. He is being held in Cook County Jail pending an April 4 court date.
This story has been updated to correctly identify that Harrell was offered a ride, not the driver of the vehicle.
CONTACT: jlotus@forestparkreview.com
CONTACT: jlotus@forestparkreview.com
