Seventeen-Year-Old Venezuelan Migrant Juvenile Returned from Colorado Detained for Downers Grove Armed Robbery
“ARMED VIOLENCE, SUCH AS ALLEGED IN THIS CASE, IS NOT WHO WE ARE IN DUPAGE COUNTY,” BERLIN STATED. “WE ARE DEFINED BY OUR DEDICATION TO THE RULE OF LAW, OUR COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER AND OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR STRONG RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO TEST OUR RESOLVE. THE IDENTIFICATION AND APPREHENSION OF THE DEFENDANT IN THIS CASE IS A TESTAMENT TO HOW FAR WE WILL GO TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND VISITORS ALIKE.”
DOWNERS GROVE - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Downers Grove Chief of Police Michael DeVries announced today that a Colorado juvenile has been accused of robbing a woman at gunpoint in downtown Downers Grove last month. The juvenile, a seventeen-year-old male Venezuelan migrant, with a last known address in Denver, Colorado, appeared at a detention hearing this morning where Judge Kishori Tank ordered that he be detained until at least his next court appearance. He is charged with one count of Armed Robbery with a Firearm (Class X Felony).
On April 22, 2025, at approximately 8:37 p.m., officers with the Downers Grove Police Department responded to a call of an armed robbery of a woman in the 4900 block of Forest Avenue. Through the course of their investigation, authorities learned that the victim was walking by herself when she was approached by a group of four individuals. It is alleged that one of the individuals, later determined to be the juvenile, displayed a handgun in his waistband and shouted “money, money” at the woman while another one of the individuals pulled at the woman’s purse. It is further alleged that after the woman gave the juvenile approximately $110, the group fled the scene. The investigation led to the juvenile charged today who was found to be living in Colorado. On May 7, 2025, Judge Kishori Tank issued an arrest warrant for the juvenile. The juvenile waived extradition from Colorado and was brought back to DuPage County on May 16, 2025, to face charges.
“It is alleged after enjoying an evening out, an innocent woman was robbed at gunpoint as she walked home,” Berlin said. “Armed violence, such as alleged in this case, is not who we are in DuPage County. We are defined by our dedication to the rule of law, our commitment to each other and our communities and our strong response to those who choose to test our resolve. The identification and apprehension of the defendant in this case is a testament to how far we will go to ensure the safety of our residents, businesses and visitors alike. I commend the Downers Grove Police Department for their truly outstanding work, which included traveling to Colorado, that enabled us to file charges against this individual. I thank DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick and his office for their work in safely returning the accused to DuPage County as well as the Denver, Colorado Police Department, the Denver District Attorney’s Office and the United States Customs and Border Protection for their assistance. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorney Nick Catizone for his efforts in preparing a strong case against the juvenile, who is now facing very serious charges.”
“I commend our patrol officers for their quick response and field investigation on the night of the incident, which led to the identification of the suspect’s associates and the recovery of the firearm used during the robbery,” DeVries said. “I would also like to commend our Investigations Unit for their diligence in identifying and apprehending the offender after he fled the State. While our work to apprehend the other individuals involved continues, I am happy to bring some resolution on behalf of the victim of this incident. I would like to thank DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and his office for their assistance with this case, and the Denver, Colorado Police Department, District 4, Anti-Crime Team for assisting our investigators with apprehending the offender.”
The juvenile’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 22, 2025, in front of Judge Tank.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the juvenile’s guilt. The juvenile is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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