First of Two Adults Charged with Attempted Vehicular Hijacking in Downers Grove has been Sentenced to Twelve Years
Downers Grove - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced today that the first of two adults charged with attempting to steal a vehicle from the garage of a Downers Grove residence has been sentenced to twelve years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Lamourice Shepherd, 22 (d.o.b. 9/23/1998) of Chicago, appeared in court this morning where he entered a plea of guilty to one count of Attempt Vehicular Hijacking, a Class 1 Felony in front of Judge Daniel Guerin, who handed down the sentence. Last summer, two juveniles each entered a plea of guilty to their roles in the incident and received sentences of an indeterminate period of time not to exceed their twenty-first birthday in the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. A fourth man allegedly involved, Carlos Hendricks, 22 (d.o.b. 1/7/1999) of Chicago is currently in custody in the DuPage County Jail awaiting trial which is scheduled for June 21, 2021.
On February 6, 2020, at approximately 4:15 a.m., Downers Grove Police Department officers responded to a call of “shots fired” on the 7400 block of Webster. An investigation into the matter alleges that an occupant of the residence was warming up their car when they observed through the front window a vehicle stopped in front of the home with its headlights off. It is alleged that two occupants of the vehicle, which was reported stolen out of Chicago, then exited the vehicle and began walking up the driveway of the victim’s house toward the car that was warming up. It is alleged that at this time, two residents of the home exited their house and confronted the two men. It is further alleged that the men then returned to their vehicle and that one of the juveniles who was an occupant of the vehicle pointed a gun at a female resident of the home and fired one shot in her direction. It is alleged that the vehicle then fled the scene. A short time later, a Darien police officer observed the vehicle allegedly involved in the matter and attempted to stop the vehicle at 75th and Cass in Darien. The vehicle allegedly refused to stop and the Darien Police officer continued his pursuit. It is alleged that the vehicle entered northbound I-55 at which time the Illinois State Police continued pursuit. It is further alleged that the vehicle exited the expressway and crashed at Martin Luther King Drive in Chicago. The occupants of the vehicle, Shepherd, Hendricks and the two juveniles were taken into custody at this time. Police also recovered two handguns.
“This morning, Mr. Shepherd took responsibility for his actions on the morning of February 6, 2020,” Berlin said. “Violent crimes as alleged in this case can shake a community to its core, leaving residents on edge and worried for their personal safety. Thankfully, through the outstanding efforts of all the law enforcement agencies involved, three of those involved have admitted their guilt and a fourth man allegedly involved is awaiting trial. I would like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Joe Lindt and Rob Willis for their efforts in ensuring that Mr. Shepherd will answer for his crimes.”
“I would like to thank the officers of the Downers Grove Police Department for their exceptional teamwork and dedicated service to the Downers Grove community throughout this investigation,” Gillette said. “I would also like to thank the Darien Police Department, Illinois State Police, and the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office for their assistance."
Shepherd will be required to serve 50% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
Members of the public are reminded that the complaint against Hendricks contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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