Man with Distinctive Facial Tattoos Charged with Aggravated Robbery in Loop
A 26-year-old man with a history of violent crimes and unique facial tattoos, including a crown and “RIP” inked on his face, has been arrested and charged with aggravated robbery after allegedly robbing a passenger on an Orange Line train in the Loop, according to authorities.
Leonard Johnson, a repeat offender with a violent criminal past, was detained by Judge James Costello after causing a disturbance in the courtroom, where he threatened the assistant state’s attorney, leading to his removal from the hearing.
Prosecutors outlined the incident in a detention petition, claiming that Johnson obstructed the train door, preventing a 27-year-old passenger from exiting as the train pulled into the station at around 1 p.m. on June 18.
He reportedly indicated he was armed and demanded money from the victim, who handed over a $20 bill.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the victim asked if Johnson would accept a $5 bill instead.
“You just got robbed,” Johnson allegedly responded before taking the $5 bill as well.
The victim immediately contacted the police, describing the suspect as a man with distinctive face tattoos, including a crown and “RIP,” as per the detention petition. Investigators utilized this description, along with CTA surveillance footage, to connect the robber to Johnson’s previous mugshots.
Last week, law enforcement officers spotted Johnson on the 100 block of West Lake Street and apprehended him.
At the time of the robbery, Johnson was out on pretrial release for a felony retail theft charge. Prosecutors revealed that he had recently completed parole for a 2018 carjacking in Lincoln Park. Johnson’s criminal record includes convictions for violent offenses as both a juvenile and an adult.
In 2018, Johnson was identified in CTA footage as the main perpetrator in a group that surrounded a man on the Grand Red Line platform, demanded his wallet, and attempted to withdraw money from his accounts at the station’s ATM. He was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison.
Two years later, Johnson and two accomplices were involved in a carjacking incident where they forcibly removed a 27-year-old man from his vehicle in the 900 block of West Armitage. The trio drove away with the car and used the victim’s credit card at a gas station near Aurora. CPD detectives recognized Johnson from the gas station’s surveillance footage.
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