⏱ 2 min read
Damatri Conner and Kenneth Merritt carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint in the backyard of a Chicago residence on November 2, 2023. The two men attacked a woman and her daughter, punching the woman in the face and pointing a loaded handgun at her and her husband. The carjacking occurred in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood, and the perpetrators made off with an Audi sedan. Conner also stole the keys to the victims’ other car, a Range Rover, and returned to the scene 12 days later to steal that vehicle as well.
The carjacking was captured on surveillance videos, which helped law enforcement track down Conner. He was found hiding in a closet in his neighborhood and was subsequently arrested. Conner pleaded guilty to federal carjacking and firearm offenses earlier this year.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Sunil R. Harjani sentenced Conner to 14 and a half years in federal prison. Merritt, who also pleaded guilty to carjacking and firearm offenses, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 9, 2026. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and other law enforcement officials.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Chicago Police Department. The case is a reminder of the violent nature of carjackings and the importance of law enforcement efforts to combat this type of crime.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Illinois
- Location: IL
- Source: DOJ Press Release
