Two teenagers have been charged with murder in connection to the deaths of two men during a carjacking spree that took place across Chicago’s North and South sides earlier this month, according to authorities.
Marquese Hill, 18, and Marshawn Sanders, 17, were arrested and charged for the fatal shootings of Darwin Tirado and Damon Kellum. The incidents occurred within an hour of each other in the early morning hours of February 11, police and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said.
Authorities allege that Hill and Sanders committed at least four attempted carjackings that night—three of which were successful. They are also linked to a January carjacking in West Ridge involving another accomplice.
According to charging documents from the State’s Attorney’s Office, just before 4 a.m. on February 11, Hill and Sanders exited the Red Line at Belmont in Lakeview. They encountered Tirado and a 28-year-old man who had just left Charlie’s Bar on North Broadway. As Tirado and his friend approached their parked Hyundai on West Waveland Avenue, Hill opened the driver’s door while Sanders fired a gun into the vehicle, striking Tirado in the back as he sat in the passenger seat.
Tirado was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was employed as a chef at Reunion restaurant at Navy Pier and attended City Colleges of Chicago. Chef Art Smith, owner of Reunion, said at a memorial for Tirado: “He was described as a joyful, kind and smart young man.” A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist Tirado’s family with funeral expenses.
After fleeing in the Hyundai, surveillance footage tracked Hill and Sanders southbound on DuSable Lake Shore Drive before they exited at 31st Street. The stolen vehicle was then seen near South Lake Park Avenue where they encountered Damon Kellum sitting inside his Nissan Altima.
At approximately 4:40 a.m., prosecutors allege that after blocking Kellum’s path with their vehicle, both teens exited their car. One shot Kellum fatally before both entered his Nissan—Hill as passenger and Sanders as driver—and fled. A neighbor later found Kellum suffering from a gunshot wound; he died at the scene.
The Nissan was subsequently tracked around Chicago’s South Side by video surveillance. Shortly before 5 a.m., it stopped at BP gas station on South Wentworth Avenue where Hill and Sanders attempted but failed to steal another vehicle from a 70-year-old man who escaped with his keys.
Minutes later near 87th Street and Lafayette Avenue, prosecutors say they blocked another car—a Chevrolet Malibu—at gunpoint. The driver complied; Hill drove off with the Chevrolet while Sanders fled separately. The stolen Chevrolet was later recovered by police in Gary, Indiana.
Hill was arrested February 15 for retail theft in Lincoln Park; police found him wearing clothing matching what appeared in surveillance footage from the crime spree. Two Senn High School administrators identified him from video evidence taken during these events.
Sanders was identified through surveillance images by someone who knew him personally. Both suspects were arrested Thursday for murder and carjacking charges.
Authorities have also connected both teens—and an additional accomplice—to an earlier incident on January 10 when three individuals entered an open garage on North Claremont Avenue in West Ridge after homeowners had parked their car inside. Prosecutors allege that Hill struck one victim while pistol-whipping another before stealing possessions along with their Toyota Highlander.
Police report that Hill faces two counts of first-degree murder plus eight felony charges related to multiple carjackings; Sanders is charged with two counts of first-degree murder along with four felony counts tied to those incidents. According to officials, Sanders will be tried as an adult.
Hill also faces an extra felony charge for aggravated battery against a police officer after allegedly hitting an officer with his crutches during arrest proceedings.
Both defendants remain detained pending trial per orders from the State’s Attorney’s Office.
