Crew Rams Car Into Chatham Gas Station

A Pattern of Violence on 87th Street

This gas station is not the first business on East 87th Street to face such aggression.

The street has become a focal point for criminal activity in the Chatham area.

Just last year, a Garrett Popcorn store on the same block was burglarized, police confirmed.

That incident occurred in September 2025 and rattled local business owners.

The corridor has seen other violent encounters as well.

In October 2023, a shooting at a Home Depot on 87th Street left Silvia Garcia critically injured.

That shooting, which happened in the store's parking lot in West Chatham, was suspected to be a case of road rage.

Residents say the frequency of these events is wearing them down.

The stretch of 87th Street connects major commercial hubs, making it a busy thoroughfare.

But that traffic also makes it a target for criminals looking for quick getaways.

• Garrett Popcorn was burglarized in September 2025.
• Silvia Garcia was hurt in a 2023 shooting nearby.
• East 87th Street is a major commercial corridor.

Ram-Raid Tactics Escalate Across City

The use of a vehicle as a battering ram is a specific and dangerous tactic.

It mirrors a similar incident in May 2026 involving an ATM burglary crew.

That group crashed their vehicle outside the Cook County Jail while fleeing police.

The chaos of that crash allowed one suspect to briefly escape in a deputy's squad car.

That bold escape showed how desperate these crews have become.

Using a car to smash a storefront is faster than traditional break-ins.

It creates immediate access to ATMs or cash registers.

However, it also poses a massive risk to public safety.

Debris from the crash can injure bystanders.

Structural damage can compromise the integrity of the building.

Police say these crews often steal cars specifically to use them as weapons.

They abandon the wrecked vehicles at the scene to avoid identification.

• ATM crew crashed outside Cook County Jail in May 2026.
• One suspect briefly stole a deputy's squad car.
• Smashed vehicles are often abandoned by suspects.

Deadly Spree Linked to Chatham

The violence in Chatham is part of a larger web of crime stretching across Chicago.

In February 2026, police charged two individuals in connection with a deadly carjacking spree.

That crew targeted four victims in a predawn rampage.

The violence spanned from Boystown on the North Side to Chatham on the South Side.

Two people were killed during that spree.

The geographic range of that violence shocked the city.

It demonstrated that crews operating in Chatham are often part of larger, mobile networks.

They do not stay in one neighborhood.

They move quickly to evade police detection.

The February spree ended with a high-speed chase and a crash.

Investigators look for patterns between that spree and the gas station smash.

While the suspects are different, the tactics share similarities.

Both involved the use of vehicles as primary tools for crime.

• Two people were killed in the February 2026 spree.
• The spree stretched from Boystown to Chatham.
• Two suspects were charged in connection with the carjackings.

Business Owners Defy the Crime Wave

Despite the risks, Chatham business owners are refusing to close their doors.

In September 2025, a Fatburger owner kept his restaurant open after an employee was attacked.

The owner told reporters he was "not giving up" on the community.

That sentiment is shared by many merchants on 87th Street.

They say closing only lets the criminals win.

However, the financial toll is mounting.

Repairs for smashed storefronts cost thousands of dollars.

Insurance premiums are rising across the South Side.

The Chicago Police Department has issued warnings about specific threats.

In June 2024, CPD warned of a string of armed burglaries targeting South Side liquor stores.

Those warnings urged business owners to upgrade security.

Many have installed reinforced glass and bollards.

Others have hired private security guards to watch their properties at night.

The community is caught between resilience and fear.

• Fatburger owner stayed open after an employee attack.
• Insurance costs are rising for local businesses.
• CPD warned of armed burglaries at liquor stores in 2024.

The Hunt for the Suspects

Detectives are now piecing together the events of Saturday night.

They are processing the abandoned vehicle for fingerprints and DNA.

They are also interviewing witnesses who may have seen the crew flee.

The gas station's surveillance system likely captured the entire incident.

Police hope that footage will provide clear images of the offenders.

Area South detectives are leading the investigation.

They are checking if this crew is responsible for other recent smash-and-grabs.

The lack of immediate arrests suggests the suspects are experienced.

They likely covered their faces and wore gloves.

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

They believe the suspects may have been casing the location for days.

The investigation will focus on the path the vehicle took before the crash.

Traffic cameras may help track its origin.

• Detectives are processing the vehicle for evidence.
• Area South detectives are leading the case.
• Police are reviewing traffic camera footage.