A 26-year-old man is accused of focusing on victims he met on a homosexual relationship app in a string of armed robberies on the Far South Aspect. Prosecutors mentioned Damarko Gibson organized meetups with males, engaged in consensual sexual exercise, then pulled a gun and compelled the victims handy over telephones, wallets, and cash.
Chicago police issued a neighborhood alert on October 23 that linked six incidents to the broader crime sample, and investigators imagine further victims could also be on the market.
The theft Gibson is charged with occurred shortly after midnight on September 2, when a 41-year-old man invited Gibson to his dwelling close to State Road and West 108th Place after the 2 exchanged messages and pictures on Grindr.
Gibson allegedly requested the sufferer to have an grownup video enjoying when he arrived, so the sufferer streamed the video from his cellphone to his tv. Prosecutors mentioned Gibson carried out a consensual act for about 30 seconds earlier than pulling a gun from his waistband, inserting it towards the sufferer’s head, and ordering him to unlock his cellphone. As a result of the video continued streaming, the sufferer may see Gibson scrolling via his cellphone, opening Zelle, and transferring cash out, a detention submitting mentioned. Gibson allegedly compelled the sufferer upstairs to retrieve his pockets and left with each the pockets and the cellphone.
On October 16, a 61-year-old man met Gibson on Grindr whereas visiting from Seattle. The sufferer agreed to select Gibson up and drive him to a bed room inside a rental constructing that the sufferer owns within the 300 block of East one hundred and fifth Road. As the person undressed, Gibson allegedly produced a gun and demanded his cellphone.
Prosecutors mentioned Gibson compelled the sufferer again into his rental automotive and directed him to drive to a Chase ATM, the place Gibson withdrew $1,000 from one card and $500 from one other. Gibson then allegedly made the sufferer drive round Chicago earlier than returning to the condo constructing, the place he received out and fled. A surveillance digicam on the ATM captured a picture of Gibson’s face, officers mentioned.
The third theft occurred on October 23, when a 26-year-old man picked Gibson up after connecting on Grindr. However this sufferer determined towards bringing Gibson dwelling based mostly on their interactions. As an alternative, he drove to an space behind a church on the 100 block of West 127th Road that he believed could be coated by safety cameras.
Prosecutors mentioned Gibson pulled a gun, pointed it on the sufferer, and ordered him to Zelle $740. Unbeknownst to the boys, that transaction failed. Investigators later decided that not one of the church’s cameras have been pointed within the route the place the theft occurred.
Choose John Hock ordered Gibson detained on three counts of armed theft. Chicago police mentioned the investigation stays lively and urged anybody who might have been victimized to contact Space Two detectives at 312-747-8273.
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