Curtis Edgleston | CPD
Parolee shot and robbed the president of a charity that ‘works to reduce recidivism among parolees,’ prosecutor says
A man who is on parole for robbing a woman in Old Town robbed, shot, and tried to kill the president of a non-profit organization that works to reduce recidivism among parolees this week, Chicago police and prosecutors said.
Curtis Edgleston, 22, spent Wednesday working on a project for the victim’s organization. After work, he robbed the 55-year-man in the victim’s truck, shot him in the face, then shot him two more times in the chest, and shot him twice more in the back as he ran for his life, according to the allegations.
Judge Barbara Dawkins ordered Edgleston held without bail.
Robbery and thefts while on probation
Edgleston is on parole for a robbery and two thefts that he committed while on probation for another theft case.
The earlier theft case started as a robbery case, but prosecutors agreed to let him plead guilty to a lesser charge, court records show. In August 2018, Edgleston took a 15-year-old boy’s phone in New City, put his hand around the boy’s neck, put him in a headlock, and choked him, saying, “I’m gonna put you to sleep,” according to court records.
While on probation for that case, Edgleston stole a woman’s phone at the Belmont Red Line station and hopped on a southbound train. When it arrived at North and Clybourn, he swiped another woman’s phone and ran from the train.
Three days later, before police linked him to the CTA thefts, Edgleston took a woman’s phone by force on the 300 block of West North Avenue and fought with her for control of her backpack. Police arrested him nearby, and he admitted to the crimes.
Judge William Gamboney sentenced him to three years for each case to be served concurrently, but state records show he was released from prison after spending 16 months in custody.
Attempted murder and robbery
Edgleston has been at a South Side halfway house while on parole for the Old Town robbery and Red Line phone thefts. He met the shooting victim a few days ago through the halfway house, Assistant State’s Attorney Loukas Kalliantasis said.
The 55-year-old non-profit president “works to reduce recidivism among parolees by developing life skills and providing job opportunities,” Kalliantasis continued.
On Wednesday, the victim took Edgleston to clean debris from a home. He later confronted Edgeleston after noticing some coins were missing from a pouch in his truck, Kalliantasis said. The situation escalated into an argument and the victim eventually agreed to drop Edgleston off at the Cottage Grove Green Line station.
When they arrived around 6:45 p.m., Edgleston allegedly demanded more money than the victim had paid him for the day’s work. The victim refused.
Edgleston allegedly pulled out a gun and shot him in the face, causing the victim to fall out of the truck and into Cottage Grove as cars and buses passed.
Kalliantasis said Edgleston walked around the truck and shot the victim two more times in the chest. He picked up the man’s phone and demanded more money. The victim handed over $800, got up, and tried to run away. Edgeleston shot him twice in the back, Kalliantasis alleged.
Chicago police said Edgleston tried to carjack a 25-year-old woman as he fled the scene, but Kalliantasis did not mention that, and Edgleston is not charged with hijacking.
Police arrested Edgleston about a block from the shooting scene. He had a handgun in his pants, the victim’s phone, a coin pouch, and over $800 cash, Kalliantasis said.
ShotSpotter technology detected five gunshots in the area. Police recovered five shell casings — one inside the victim’s truck and four on Cottage Grove, according to Kalliantasis. Cameras at the CTA station reportedly captured the incident from a distance.
Prosecutors charged Edgleston with attempted first-degree murder, armed robbery with discharge of a firearm causing bodily harm, and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon on parole.
The victim was in serious condition according to a CPD media statement released on Wednesday.
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