Kiar Evans, Carjacking, Illinois 2024

Chicago, IL – A Chicago man has been arraigned in federal court on charges of carjacking and firearm offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.

22-year-old Kiar Evans, of Chicago, was indicted by a federal grand jury earlier this month on one count of carjacking, one count of attempted carjacking, one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

According to the indictment, the carjackings occurred on May 20, 2021, within minutes of each other. In one incident, Evans allegedly approached a Chevrolet Impala near the intersection of Independence Boulevard and Congress Parkway and fired two shots into the passenger-side window while attempting to get inside. The driver was able to drive away.

Evans then allegedly approached the driver-side window of a Nissan Altima, pointed a firearm at the driver and demanded that the driver exit the vehicle. The victim complied, and Evans drove off in the Nissan. A short time later, Evans was involved in a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of Harrison Street and Ogden Avenue. Chicago Police officers arrested Evans and discovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun in the Nissan.

As a previously convicted felon, Evans was not lawfully allowed to possess a firearm. If convicted, Evans faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in federal prison for the firearm discharge count and a maximum of life.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Evans was arraigned in federal court on July 16, 2021, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold ordered the parties to file a joint status report on September 7, 2021.

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