Chicago Police have released surveillance photos of the suspects in an attempted robbery that led to a woman being fatally struck by a pickup truck on Lake Shore Drive early Sunday in the Gold Coast neighborhood.
While there is more video to review, Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said one snippet corroborates reports that Pamela Johnson, 32, and a 43-year-old man were approached by a group of “possibly” seven or eight men before they were both hit by the truck, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.
The video also shows several suspects going over the east barrier wall of Lake Shore Drive immediately after the victims, then fleeing westbound on Superior after the suspects were struck by the pickup truck, police said.
Now police want to question members of that group about the incident, Guglielmi said. Anyone who recognizes the suspects in the photos is asked to call Area Central detectives at (312) 747-8380. Those looking to make anonymous tips can also call (800) 883-5587.
Authorities originally said they were investigating “discrepancies” after they were told Johnson and her companion had been victims of a robbery.
The man told investigators he was walking with Johnson about 1:40 a.m. in the 600 block of North Lake Shore Drive when they were approached by a group of males, at least one of whom was showing a handgun, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
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He told police the two tried to run away across Lake Shore Drive when the group announced a robbery, but they were hit by the pickup in the southbound lanes near Huron Street, police said. They were both taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Johnson, who lived in the 9100 block of South Marquette, was pronounced dead at 2:05 a.m., authorities said. An autopsy Sunday did not rule on her cause and manner of death, pending further studies.
The man’s condition was stabilized at Northwestern, police said.
Andrew Holmes, an activist who said he is related to Johnson through marriage, said earlier Monday that he would call on Chicago police to publicly release any video of the altercation in an effort to identify members of the group that allegedly approached the pair.
“If we can identify one, you best believe the rest of them will be identified,” Holmes said.
