Illinois’ Coddling of Criminals on Full Display After Chicago Teen’s Latest Bust

A 19-year-old with a lengthy criminal history stands accused of shooting a woman during an armed robbery in Chicago earlier this month, and his case is just the latest example of the state’s revolving door of justice when it comes to violent offenders. 

The website CWB Chicago highlighted the arrest of the teen, who allegedly was part of a three-man crew that targeted two women on July 13. One of the two women was shot in the stomach during the robbery, even though authorities say she was cooperating with her assailants when one of them pulled the trigger. 

Michael Jenkins was ordered held without release by Judge Rivanda Doss Beal, who noted Jenkins had five juvenile convictions for violent crimes. At the time of the shooting, he was already facing a felony charge for possessing a stolen car, and, according to prosecutors, committed several new felonies while awaiting trial. 

It’s great that Jenkins has finally been determined to pose enough of a risk to public safety that he’s being held without bond, but why on earth did it take so long for a judge to reach that conclusion? 

The five violent crimes Jenkins committed as a juvenile should have been enough to hold him when he was arrested on the felony stolen vehicle charge. Clearly the 19-year-old has trouble staying within the confines of the law. 

Instead, he was sent on his way and told to report back to court for his first hearing. Before that hearing took place, though, prosecutors and Chicago police say he was part of a multi-day crime spree that ended when he was taken into custody for the July 13 robbery and shooting.

Police also tied Jenkins to an earlier violent robbery on June 9. That evening, surveillance video showed Jenkins walking back and forth along the sidewalk in the 3100 block of North Broadway, near a car left running by a delivery driver who went inside to pick up food. At 7:33 p.m., Jenkins got in and drove off, prosecutors allege.

That same Honda CR-V was used in four armed robberies later that night, including one at 11:51 p.m. in the 700 block of West Roscoe, according to the petition.

In that case, a 21-year-old woman was returning home from 7-Eleven when she was attacked at her front door by two masked men. One held a gun to her neck. The other covered her mouth and said, “Shut up or I’ll shoot you.”

They stole her phone, forced her to change its passcode to “000000,” and took her wallet, credit cards, and a package of nicotine pouches. The men fled in the Honda CR-V, which was seen entering the Boystown bar strip moments later, according to the filing.

The next day, police recovered the car on the West Side — with the stolen, unopened Zyn package still inside, the petition says.

That victim later told police that her contacts received texts from her phone: “Can you Apple Pay me 25 for an Uber?”

Days later, while logging into Instagram for the first time on her new phone, she was prompted to select an account. Among them was one she did not recognize: “_bigmike1500_.” It was accompanied by a profile photo of the man who had covered her mouth during the robbery — Jenkins, according to prosecutors.

At the moment, Jenkins faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, armed robbery, possessing stolen motor vehicles, aggravated possession of a weapon, and identity theft. 

If the Cook County criminal justice system wasn’t so dysfunctional, and if Illinois Democrats in Springfield weren’t making it so difficult to keep repeat offenders like Jenkins behind bars while they await trial, it’s quite possible that none of these crimes would have been committed. 

Unfortunately, I don’t see either of those dynamics changing for the better anytime soon. And while violent crime is down substantially in the city so far this year (a trend that’s taking place across the country), Chicago is still a dangerous place. 

Illinois doesn’t make it easy for residents to protect themselves, and for non-residents the process is even more difficult. 

The state doesn’t recognize any out-of-state carry licenses, and in order for a non-resident to apply for an Illinois CCW they must live in a state with “substantially similar” laws related to firearm ownership, possession, and carrying. If they meet that requirement, they must still take a 16-hour concealed carry course conducted by an instructor approved by the Illinois State Police, provide the ISP with a copy of their valid concealed carry license from their home state, and fork over $300 to apply for a non-resident permit (among other requirements). 

Of course, violent criminals aren’t following those laws any more than they’re obeying the laws against armed robbery, carjacking, aggravated assault, and murder. It’s the law-abiding who are paying the price for the state’s infringements on the right to keep and bear arms, while repeat offenders are all too often getting a pass or a slap on the wrist for their crimes. 

Editor’s Note: The “Chicago Way” is not the way to make our cities safer. 

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