Updated: One Arrested, One Suspect Missing in Armed Robbery of 7-Eleven

The Wilmette 7-Eleven, located at 500 Skokie Blvd., was held up in an armed robbery on Thursday night, Patrick Collins, Wilmette Police Commander, confirmed.

An officer was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Wilmette Ave. and Skokie Blvd. by a witness reporting that an armed robbery was in progress at the 7-Eleven. The police officer confronted two offenders leaving the store. The officer ordered both subjects to the ground at gunpoint, but both suspects ignored the order and fled the scene in opposite directions. 

The police officer successfully wrestled one of the subjects — a 30-year-old male from Chicago — off of a fence and he was taken into custody. (Charges are currently pending.) 

Officers utilized a K-9 and conducted a yard search, but were unable to find the second suspect.

A new resident to Wilmette lives near the 7-Eleven, and told Patch that he was stopped by police while out trying to walk his dog.

"As I approached the police car at the end of my block, I started to ask what was going on and the police officer took a few steps toward me and said, 'Sir, please return to your home right now. For your own safety,'" the resident said.

The resident said that police searched his backyard after the armed robbery occurred.

"[The police] looked around our backyard, in bushes, in our shed...and around the neighbors' lawns and backyards as well," he said. "I overheard from their radios that they were checking out local parks as well."

The resident said that, while he did not see the police apprehend a suspect, he was assured by officers that they were "fairly confident" that the suspect had fled the scene but they were taking extra precautions.

The resident confirmed that, as of 11:10 p.m., the police had left the scene of the incident.

The Wilmette Police were unavailable for further comment at the time of publication.

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