Three suspects, Deandre D. Richardson, 27, Travonta S. Turner, 28, and Johnie D. Fort, 29, all from Chicago, were arrested following a robbery and police pursuit connected to a Vernon Hills convenience store incident.
On October 23, 2023, the trio entered EZ Food Pantry on South Milwaukee Avenue in Vernon Hills. Initially, Richardson walked into the store and inquired about the price of alcohol before leaving. He returned shortly after with Turner and Fort, where Fort physically handled the clerk and moved him to the back of the store. Meanwhile, Turner and Richardson proceeded to steal $2,823 worth of alcohol and cigarettes. The suspects fled the scene in a gray Ford Escape, and the clerk was able to provide police with the vehicle’s license plate.
Two days later, on October 25, 2023, the same suspects entered Lombard Liquors and stole over $6,100 worth of liquor. As they fled the store, Illinois State Police spotted the vehicle on I-290 and initiated a pursuit. The suspects crashed their car in Chicago, leading to a foot chase. All three suspects were apprehended and transferred to the DuPage County Jail.
Following identification by Vernon Hills police, the trio was linked to the October 23 robbery. The men were charged with burglary and retail theft in DuPage County, and later faced additional robbery and burglary charges in Lake County in January 2024.
Court records show that Turner and Fort pleaded guilty to robbery in Lake County and were sentenced to four and five years, respectively, in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). Richardson, who was sentenced to three years, was paroled on December 24, 2024. He was transferred to Lake County Jail to face the robbery charges.
During his detention hearing, Lake County Judge James Newman noted the severity of the crime, highlighting the safety of the victim in the robbery. Richardson remains in Lake County Jail and is set for an arraignment hearing on January 15, 2024. Turner and Fort are expected to be paroled in 2027.