Damonte McCorkle faces severe charges for kidnapping and robbery in Chicago
- At approximately 5:40 a.m. Tuesday, Damonte McCorkle attempted to carjack a woman at gunpoint outside a hospital in Oak Lawn.
- After forcing the woman to drive around for several hours, McCorkle carjacked an 85-year-old man.
- McCorkle has been charged with multiple serious offenses, highlighting the ongoing safety concerns in the community.
In Chicago, Illinois, an alarming incident occurred early on a Tuesday morning when a 25-year-old man named Damonte McCorkle allegedly kidnapped a woman outside Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. The incident began at approximately 5:40 a.m., when McCorkle attempted to steal the woman’s car at gunpoint. However, the woman, a resident of Oak Lawn, bravely refused to exit the vehicle, prompting the assailant to enter the passenger seat instead and demand that she drive. This frightening event lasted several hours, during which the woman was forced to drive around the area while being threatened with a firearm. After approximately six hours of being held against her will, McCorkle ordered the woman to stop near 103rd and Southwest Highway in Chicago Ridge. At this location, he allegedly carjacked an 85-year-old man at gunpoint, further escalating the severity of his criminal actions. Following this event, the woman was able to return home, where she informed her husband about the horrifying experience. The couple then contacted the Oak Lawn police, who relayed the information to the authorities in Palos Park. Law enforcement agencies from multiple jurisdictions quickly mobilized to locate McCorkle, who was still driving the vehicle belonging to the elderly man he had just carjacked. Officers from Chicago Lawn attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but McCorkle fled the scene, leading to a chase that ended in Crestwood. Law enforcement from various agencies worked together to successfully apprehend him, and he was taken into custody without further incident. On Friday, McCorkle appeared in court for his first hearing, where the judge ordered him to be detained at Cook County Jail while he awaits trial. This incident has sparked significant concern in the community about the rising violence and danger present on the streets, especially pertaining to the safety of both vulnerable individuals and law enforcement personnel who may respond to such emergencies.