Warrant issued for man wanted in attempted Oak Lawn carjacking

An arrest warrant has been issued for one of four men suspected of being involved in an armed carjacking in Oak Lawn that took place April 18 near the intersection of 99th Place and Minnick Avenue.

Jerome D. Fears Jr., 20, of Chicago, is wanted for the attempted vehicular hijacking that happened in the early morning hours of April 18.

Police said a group of men fired shots at an Oak Lawn home when they tried to steal a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The four fled in a Mercedes SUV at a high rate of speed when it crashed moments later into a tree. The men got out and attempted to carjack a vehicle driven by a woman with a young child in the vehicle, police said.

According to police, Fears pointed a gun at the woman while one of his accomplices tried to open the passenger-side car door, but the woman was able to speed away unharmed.

Fears has an extensive arrest history that includes weapons and stolen vehicle offenses, robbery, and assault, and he should be considered armed and dangerous. He is 5-foot-5-inches tall with a noticeable deformity to his right hand.

Oak Lawn Police say they have also identified two other suspects in the incident and are hoping to bring additional charges, something that Oak Lawn Trustee Paul Mallo said he is extremely grateful for and enthusiastic about.

“These people are predators, plain and simple, and they need to be off of our streets and in our jails,” Mallo said in a news release.

The incident occurred in Mallo’s 3rd District, but he said every member of the Oak Lawn Board is fed-up with the increase in violent crime in the area.

“Our concern is the safety and well-being of our citizens and police officers, not the criminals who prey on, victimize, and attack them,” Mallo said.

If anyone has information on the whereabouts of Fears, about this or other incidents, please call the Oak Lawn Police Detective Division at 708-907-4051, or send a text to 708-613-8477.