Prosecutors: Teen shoots himself while eating stolen pizza

Armando_Colon.jpg

Armando Colon/Chicago Police photo

Armando Colon was greedy, hungry and a little clumsy when he and his friend allegedly held up two food deliverymen in Logan Square a few days ago.

After Colon, 19, and 16-year-old Deon Reece rifled through their victims’ pockets, they fled to a nearby abandoned building where they ate the pizza and Chinese food they swiped along with the cash, Cook County prosecutors said.

But following their Jan. 14 caper targeting a Domino’s deliveryman, Colon accidentally shot himself in the finger while eating the stolen pizza as he handled the gun used in the crime, Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Karr said.

As Karr described Colon’s misfortune before Judge Peggy Chiampas Thursday, several onlookers in the courtroom softly chuckled.

Reece, who has been charged as adult, had let Colon use his phone to place an order for two pizzas and have them delivered in the 3500 block of West Dickens Avenue, Karr said.

Colon sat on the porch of the residence and waited for the pizzas as Reece hid around the side with a weapon, Karr said.

Colon took the pizzas when the 34-year-old deliveryman arrived that night.

Then, Reece allegedly emerged with his gun drawn and put it against the deliveryman’s head.

Both teens rifled though the deliveryman’s pockets and took $40-$50 before fleeing to eat the food and split the proceeds, Karr said.

Colon ran out of the abandoned building after he shot himself, and someone called 911, Karr said.

Colon, of the 1800 block of North Kimball Avenue, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was treated for his wound. He has a scar from the graze wound on a finger on his left hand, according to a police report.

But Colon’s injuries didn’t deter him, authorities said.

Four days later, Reece and Colon decided they’d rob a Chinese food delivery driver and placed an order at a restaurant using Reece’s cellphone, Karr said.

When the 52-year-old deliveryman arrived in the 3500 block of West Shakespeare Avenue, Colon opened the passenger side door and took the take-out from the car, Karr said.

Reece opened the driver’s side door, pointed the gun at the deliveryman and then hit him with the butt of the weapon, leaving a red mark on the victim’s face, Karr said.

Reece and Colon allegedly took about $400 before going to an abandoned building where they ate the food.

Reece and Colon were arrested on Tuesday and were identified by both victims, Karr said.

During their bond hearing Thursday, Reece, who attends Roberto Clemente Community Academy, told the judge that she once spoke at his school.

Chiampas said she does speak at schools for Career Day events but said she didn’t remember Reece.

She asked Reece if he was OK with her hearing his case.

Reece didn’t object.

Chiampas ordered Reece and Colon, of the 3500 block of West Dickens Avenue, held in lieu of $150,000 bail for armed robbery with a firearm charges.

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