DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis recently announced that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the state’s motion to deny pre-trial release for a Chicago woman charged in connection with a shooting at Oakbrook Center in late September.
Chance Jamerson, 29, appeared in court on Oct. 13, and was charged with three counts of attempted armed robbery, a Class 1 felony.
Shortly after noon on Sept. 30, officers with the Oak Brook Police Department received a call of shots fired in the parking lot outside of Oakbrook Center. Upon their arrival, officers observed Justin Hill, who appeared to have sustained a gunshot wound, lying in the parking lot outside of the L.L. Bean store. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officers also found that Chance Jamerson appeared to have sustained a gunshot wound. She was transported to an area hospital for medical attention.
Following an investigation into the shooting, it is alleged that the driver of a black Mercedes had arranged with Jamerson and two other individuals to go to Oakbrook Center to purchase four Swatch watches, priced at approximately $448 each plus tax, which were limited to one purchase per person. It is alleged that the driver of the Mercedes had brought $2,000 with him to purchase the watches. It is alleged that at approximately 12:01 p.m., the black Mercedes, with four occupants, including Jamerson, who was seated in the back driver’s side of the Mercedes, pulled into a parking stall. It is alleged that a short time later, a white Nissan Rogue, later determined to be driven by the sole occupant, Hill, pulled behind the Mercedes and blocked it in. It is further alleged that after blocking in the Mercedes, Hill exited the Rogue and approached the rear passenger side of the Mercedes, opened the door, pointed a gun at the car’s occupants and said, “give me all that s***”. It is alleged that the driver of the Mercedes exited the vehicle and began wrestling Hill for the gun, at which point Jamerson jumped out of the back seat of the car and tried to help Hill as he wrestled the driver of the Mercedes for the gun.
It is alleged that the driver of the Mercedes wrestled the gun away from Hill and discharged the gun, striking Jamerson and Hill. Following the shooting, the victims fled the scene in the Mercedes and were located at the Oakbrook Terrace Police Department a short time later, while Jamerson allegedly entered the Nissan that Hill had arrived in and briefly drove around the parking lot. Authorities took Jamerson into custody at the scene, where she received medical attention and was transported to an area hospital.
While executing a search warrant on the Mercedes, officers located a Springfield 9mm pistol. Officers also located 9mm shell casings in the parking lot of the shopping center. Following further investigation, it is alleged that prior to the incident, Jamerson was messaging Hill information, including appraising Hill of their location, telling him what type of car they were in, to block them in, and to take everything including the phones in the car. After receiving these messages, Hill reportedly approached the Mercedes armed with a firearm, and announced a robbery. As the investigation determined Justin Hill and Chance Jamerson were committing armed robbery with a firearm, a forcible felony, the driver of the Mercedes is not being charged in the shooting because Illinois law authorizes the use of deadly force to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.
“It is alleged that Ms. Jamerson, working in coordination with Mr. Hill, arranged to rob at gunpoint an innocent man of approximately $2,000 and two other innocent individuals of their personal property,” Berlin said. “Violent crime, by its very nature, is dangerous and unpredictable and when you engage in such activity, everyone involved, not just the intended victim, is put at risk, particularly when a firearm is involved.”
“The response to this incident was swift, coordinated and professional,” Strockis said. “Our officers, investigators and law enforcement partners demonstrated exceptional work in building this case and securing the appropriate charges against the surviving offender. Technology played a critical role in both the immediate response and the investigative process. The safety of Oakbrook Center and the entire Oak Brook community remains a top priority for our department.”
Jamerson’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 23, in front of Judge Brian Telander.
