Police: Alleged Serial Robber Wanted Cops To Kill Him
Updated 02/21/13 - 12:58 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A man charged in connection with 16 armed robberies since last month allegedly was trying to get himself killed by police, because he was distraught over a breakup with his girlfriend.
Jesus Rosas, 23, was denied bail on Thursday, after he was charged with four counts of aggravated assault to a police officer, four counts of attempted murder, nine counts of armed robbery, and two counts of attempted armed robbery.
Robber Had Death Wish
At a news conference Thursday afternoon, police said Rosas robbed 16 stores -- including pharmacies, convenience stores and Subway shops -- using a fake gun. Police said the crime spree began in January, and that Rosas was trying to get money to buy gifts for his girlfriend.
When his girlfriend broke up with him earlier this month, Rosas continued committing robberies, hoping to be killed by police, because he didn't want to commit suicide.
"This was kind of a troubling part of the investigation: He actually wanted the police to kill him. He was conducting these, robberies, he had a gun on him and he wanted the police to kill him," Chicago Police Cmdr. Anthony Riccio told reporters.
Police say his hauls ranged from $74 to $850. In some instances, Rosas would rob customers as well as the clerk.
Rosas was captured this week after holding up a Subway on the 800 block of North State Street, as the store was closing shortly before midnight Tuesday night.
After robbing the Subway, he jumped into an SUV and sped away, until police caught up with him a couple miles away, along the dividing line between the Bucktown and Wicker Park neighborhoods.
Dozens of police officers converged on the busy "six corners" intersection of Milwaukee, Damen, and North avenues, where the SUV crashed into a parked car as police were giving chase.
Police said Rosas threw the SUV into reverse, hit a squad car, then shifted gears again, and tried to run over four officers. Acting in self-defense, police shot Rosas, who was treated at a local hospital before he was charged.
The robberies Rosas has been tied to included the holdup at the Subway on State Street, and another Subway at 66 E. Washington St., next door to the Chicago Cultural Center.
