Two teens charged with murder during carjacking spree across North, South sides

Two teenagers were charged over the weekend for fatally shooting two men during a carjacking spree earlier this month that spanned the North and South sides, Chicago police said.

Marquese Hill, 18, and a 17-year-old boy were charged with several felonies, including first-degree murder and aggravated vehicular hijacking with a weapon, according to police. Hill faces additional charges for aggravated battery of a police officer and aggravated vehicular hijacking of a handicapped person. Police did not name the 17-year-old because he is underage.

Darwin Tirado, 22, and Damon Kellum, 45, were killed about an hour apart in the Feb. 11 attacks.

Tirado was sitting in a parked car with a friend just before 4 a.m. in the 700 block of West Waveland Avenue in the Lakeview neighborhood. The two had left a nearby tavern when Hill and the 17-year-old allegedly attacked them, police said.

Tirado was fatally shot, and his friend, a 38-year-old man, was punched in the face. The friend got out of the Hyundai Sonata and Hill and the teenager fled in the car, according to police.

Less than an hour later and 12 miles south in Oakland, Kellum was in his car in the 3700 block of South Lake Park Avenue when Hill and the 17-year-old allegedly fatally shot him, police said. They got into his Nissan Altima and drove to a gas station in the 4200 block of South Wentworth Avenue in Fuller Park. Tirado’s car was found near where Kellum was killed, according to police.

At the gas station, police say Hill and the teenager tried to steal a 70-year-old man’s car at gunpoint. But when they attempted to get away in the car, the driver was able to flee with his keys, according to police.

They got back in the stolen Nissan and drove to the 8600 block of South Lafayette Avenue in Chatham around 5 a.m. They approached a 38-year-old man sitting in traffic in a Chevy Malibu. They forced him out of the car at gunpoint and fled.

When police tried arresting him Feb. 19, Hill, who was using crutches, hit an officer with the crutches. He also faces charges for a carjacking from Jan. 10 in the 7500 block of N. Claremont Avenue in West Rogers Park.

The teenager was arrested later that afternoon.

The two made their first court appearances Saturday and were ordered held until trial.