Residents Urged to Attend Arraignment of Two Men Charged in Beverly Carjacking

CHICAGO — Local residents are being encouraged to show their support by attending the upcoming arraignment of two men charged in connection with a brutal carjacking incident that occurred last month in Beverly. Damarri Conner, aged 20, and Kenneth Merritt, aged 26, will be appearing at the Bridgeview Courthouse located at 10220 S. 76th Ave this Friday. The proceedings are scheduled to take place at 9 a.m. in room 109, with Judge Thomas J. Hennelly presiding over the case.

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) has called upon all available residents to join him in this show of solidarity for the victims and to send a clear message regarding the importance of accountability and justice. “I am asking all available residents to join me tomorrow morning in support of the victims and to send a strong message about the need for accountability and justice,” Ald. O’Shea said.

Conner and Merritt are both facing serious felony charges, including aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm and two counts of robbery with a firearm. Following a detention hearing last month, both individuals were denied pretrial release.

The carjacking incident took place on November 2 in the 9300 block of South Pleasant Avenue, according to the Chicago Police Department. The victim, a 46-year-old woman, and her 12-year-old daughter had just returned home at around 8:45 p.m. when they were approached by Conner and Merritt. Doorbell-camera footage captured the horrifying moment when the two men forcefully pushed the woman to the ground at gunpoint, seizing her car keys and personal belongings, including her 2012 Audi.

In a subsequent incident, the accused individuals allegedly returned to the scene using the stolen key fobs from the first carjacking, and targeted the family’s second vehicle, a Range Rover.

Ald. O’Shea expressed his frustration at the circumstances of the case, which have attracted national attention, as well as the extensive criminal records of the defendants. “The disturbing circumstances of this case have garnered national attention; even more frustrating is the extensive criminal backgrounds of both defendants,” O’Shea stated. “The revolving door for violent offenders must be closed if we hope to address our public safety crisis.”