Man charged in Des Plaines bank robbery that led to shooting of boy, police officer

A man who the feds say admitted his role in the Des Plaines bank robbery that led to the shooting Tuesday of a Chicago police officer and a 15-year-old boy on the Northwest Side now faces a federal bank robbery charge.

Maurice Murphy admitted Wednesday his role in the robbery that also led to the death of his accomplice, Christopher Willis, according to the feds. He allegedly told authorities, “You got me,” and said he helped rob the bank because he needed money.

A 20-page criminal complaint made public Friday says Murphy was arrested after a witness and some friends on South Chestnut Street in Des Plaines chased and tackled Murphy. They had seen him run across an alley while police sirens wailed.

Murphy initially denied taking part in the robbery of a Bank of America office in the 1300 block of East Oakton. At first, he told authorities a story about taking the CTA Red Line from the South Side to Evanston, followed by an Uber ride. He said he had been spotted running because he had been smoking marijuana, was from the South Side and “had learned to run from police,” according to the complaint.

The feds say Murphy also initially denied knowing Willis. Then, investigators showed him surveillance images of Murphy and Willis together in a store before the bank robbery. That’s when they said he confessed before asking for a lawyer.

After the robbery, Des Plaines police found the pair’s getaway vehicle in an alley about a half-mile from the bank. While Murphy fled on foot, police said Willis carjacked a Buick that police then spotted and chased at high speeds onto the nearby Kennedy Expressway.

Chicago police were waiting for the robber when he exited the Kennedy at Irving Park Road. Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said the robber then opened fire on police, striking a veteran officer. The robber then crashed the car before running into a music school in the 4300 block of West Irving Park Road, where the boy was injured. He was likely shot by Des Plaines police, according to CPD.

No shots were fired by Chicago police officers during the incident.

Contributing: Mitch Dudek, Sam Charles