Chicago Man Convicted on Federal Carjacking and Firearm Charges Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois Dateline: Chicago, Illinois Date: 23 February 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime

CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been convicted in federal court of carjacking a vehicle at gunpoint on the city’s West Side and firing a handgun while attempting to carjack another vehicle.

The jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago on Tuesday convicted KIAR EVANS, 24, on all four counts against him, including one count of carjacking, one count of attempted carjacking, 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.

The convictions are punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison and a maximum of life.  U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold has not yet set a sentencing date.

The guilty verdicts were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige A. Nutini and Jimmy L. Arce.

According to evidence presented at the week-long trial, the carjacking and attempted carjacking occurred within minutes of each other on the afternoon of May 20, 2021.  In the attempted carjacking, Evans approached a Chevrolet Impala near the intersection of Independence Boulevard and Congress Parkway in Chicago and fired shots through a window while attempting to get inside.  The driver of the Impala was able to drive away from the scene.

Evans then 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 driving the stolen vehicle when he was involved in a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of Harrison Street and Ogden Avenue in Chicago.  Chicago Police officers arrested Evans and discovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun in his possession.  As a previously convicted felon, Evans was not lawfully allowed to possess a firearm.

Updated February 23, 2024