A DuPage County judge ordered Chance Jamerson held without pretrial release Tuesday, Oct. 13. The 29-year-old Chicago woman faces three counts of attempted armed robbery in the Sept. 30 Oakbrook Center shooting that killed one man.

Jamerson is charged with a Class 1 felony. If convicted, she could face up to 15 years in prison, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors told the court Jamerson coordinated the robbery from inside a black Mercedes, texting instructions to the gunman before the attack. The scheme began when the Mercedes driver arranged with Jamerson and two others to buy four limited-edition Swatch watches at the Oak Brook mall, bringing $2,000 in cash, according to Shaw Local. Each watch cost about $450. The store limited purchases to one per person.

At about 12:01 p.m. on Sept. 30, the Mercedes pulled into a parking stall near the mall. Minutes later, Justin Hill, 28, of Dolton, drove a white Nissan Rogue behind the Mercedes and blocked it in. Hill approached the rear passenger door with a gun drawn and announced a robbery, prosecutors alleged.

The Mercedes driver wrestled Hill for the gun. Jamerson jumped out of the back seat and tried to help Hill, which prosecutors said made the driver believe Jamerson had set him up.

The driver eventually gained control of the weapon and fired, striking both Hill and Jamerson. Hill was pronounced dead in the parking lot. Jamerson was shot in the abdomen and arrested at the scene after briefly driving Hill's Nissan around the lot, authorities said.

Phone evidence was central to the prosecution's case. Investigators recovered messages from Jamerson's phone allegedly sent to Hill before the robbery. The messages included their location, the type of car they were in and instructions to take everything.

At about 12:05 p.m., Jamerson allegedly texted Hill, "Block car in decent," and "Im help u get everything tho," according to the state's attorney's office.

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release that it is alleged Jamerson, "working in coordination with Mr. Hill, arranged to rob at gunpoint an innocent man of approximately two thousand dollars and two other innocent individuals of their personal property."

Defense attorney Gus Kostopoulos disputed the prosecution's account. He said his client maintains Hill alone was responsible for the robbery and that prosecutors drew incorrect inferences from the text messages, CBS News Chicago reported. Kostopoulos argued Jamerson is a mother of three, including a newborn, and asked for electronic monitoring and home confinement instead of detention.

The judge acknowledged Jamerson's family situation but declined. He cited "legitimate concerns" about the danger she posed to the victims and the broader community, according to CBS News Chicago.

The Mercedes driver will not face charges. Berlin said the investigation determined the shooting was justified under Illinois law, which authorizes deadly force to prevent a forcible felony.

Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis said the case has affected operations at the mall's Swatch store. He told ABC 7 the department has had problems related to special-release Swatch watches at that location and that those sales will no longer occur there.

Hinsdale public safety week ahead

  • Friday, Oct. 23: Jamerson's next court appearance in DuPage County court.
  • Residents with information about the Sept. 30 incident can contact the Oak Brook Police Department. Court filings are available through the DuPage County Circuit Clerk's office.