Message Sent: 3 Days, 3 Violent Crimes, 3 Defendants Denied Bond

Lennell Owens (L) and Reginald Allen (R) have both been denied bond after being charged with robbing a Lombard 7-Eleven at gunpoint.

“FOR THE THIRD TIME IN AS MANY DAYS, BOND WAS DENIED FOR A DEFENDANT ACCUSED OF COMMITTING A VIOLENT CRIME IN DUPAGE COUNTY,” BERLIN SAID. “THESE TYPES OF CRIMEs ARE EXTREMELY SERIOUS AND CONSEQUENTLY THOSE ACCUSED OF SUCH WILL EXPERIENCE THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW FROM APPREHENSION THROUGH PROSECUTION.”

LOMBARD - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Lombard Chief of Police Roy Newton announced today that bond has been denied for two Chicago men accused of robbing a Lombard 7-Eleven convenience store at gunpoint. Reginald Allen, 53 (d.o.b. 11/27/1968) of the 7300 block of N. Damen Avenue, appeared at a bond hearing yesterday morning where Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh granted the State’s motion to deny bond. Allen’s co-defendant, Lennell Owens, 46 (d.o.b. 6/27/1975) of the 8700 block of S. Emerald Avenue, appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Brian Telander again granted the State’s motion to deny bond. Allen has been charged with one count of Armed Robbery (Class X Felony), one count of Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X Felony) and one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 2 Felony). Owens has been charged with one count of Armed Robbery (Class X Felony), one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding (Class 4 Felony).

It is alleged that on June 11, 2022, at approximately 6:45 p.m., Allen and Owens entered the 7-Eleven convenience store located at 801 South Westmore-Myers Road. It is alleged that as the men approached the counter, Owens displayed a handgun and demanded money from a female employee who was working at the cash register. It is further alleged that Owens then went to the back of the store where a male employee was stationed and stole at gunpoint cartons of cigarettes from the shelves as well as the employee’s cell phone. It is alleged that while Owens was in the back of the store, Allen remained at the counter and collected the money from the cash register. It is alleged that after the robbery, both men left the store and drove away in a Jeep Wrangler southbound on Westmore-Myers Road. Once alerted to the robbery, authorities allegedly located the vehicle exiting a parking lot on Roosevelt Road. Officers with the Lombard Police Department activated their emergency lights and attempted to stop the vehicle. It is alleged that at this time, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Owens, fled from the officers traveling more than 80 mph in a 35-mph zone. It is further alleged that the Jeep entered I-355 and was ultimately spotted near I-290 and Route 83 with assistance from the Illinois State Police and a helicopter from the Chicago Police Department. It is alleged that the Jeep exited I-290 onto 17th Avenue and ultimately crashed into a tree on 74th Avenue in Elmwood Park. Both men and an unidentified occupant of the vehicle were taken into custody at this time. Owens was taken to a local hospital for medical attention for injuries sustained in the crash. He was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. Following the execution of a search warrant, authorities located a loaded Glock 10mm handgun, thirty-three cartons of cigarettes and nearly $200 cash in the vehicle.

“For the third time in as many days, bond was denied for a defendant accused of committing a violent crime in DuPage County,” Berlin said. “These types of crimes are extremely serious and consequently those accused of such will experience the full force of the law from apprehension through prosecution. I commend the Lombard police officers involved in this incident for their swift response as well as the Illinois State Police, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Chicago, Villa Park. Forest Park, and Elmwood Park Police Departments for their assistance in taking Mr. Allen and Mr. Owens into custody. I thank Assistant State’s Attorney Steven Lupa for his efforts in preparing a strong case against the two defendants.”

“Once again habitual criminals are so emboldened to commit such aggressive crimes against victims just trying to work,” Newton said. “Lombard thanks DuPage County State’s Attorney Berlin and his office for their continued tough stance on crimes. I wish to specifically thank the Lombard officers and detectives for their immediate response and thorough investigation. Most notably, officers from the Villa Park Police Department who assisted in apprehending the offender as well as the many suburbs and Cook County Sheriff’s Office who assisted.”

The next court appearance for Allen is scheduled for June 29, 2022, for arraignment while Owens’ next court appearance is scheduled for June 30, 2022, for arraignment. Each defendant’s case will be in front of Judge O’Hallaren Walsh. If convicted on all counts, Allen faces a penalty of between twenty-one to forty-five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) while Owens, who is extended term eligible, faces a penalty of twenty-one to seventy-five years in the IDOC.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendants’ guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are 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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