Rockford man linked to armed robberies in Zion, Waukegan
A Rockford man who was injured in a high-speed crash after the armed robbery of an Antioch gas station is now also accused of stickups at stations in Zion and Waukegan, Lake County State’s Attorney officials said Tuesday.
Kenneth Cooper, 33, was expected to appear in front of Judge James T. Booras Tuesday after being charged with four total counts of armed robbery and a single count of aggravated discharge of a firearm, Assistant States Attorney Tim Niehus said.
However, Cooper was not in court because he was receiving more treatment for the injuries he suffered during the July 15 high-speed police pursuit in Antioch, Niehus said.
Cooper and Holliman were riding in a vehicle driven by Paris Williams, 26, of Rockford, after the three robbed Bernie’s Marathon, 830 Main St., Antioch, according to police.
During the robbery, the men, who were armed with a semiautomatic pistol, pepper-sprayed the gas station clerk and held the victim at gunpoint while demanding money, police said.
After fleeing the store, William’s lost control of the Chevrolet sedan at Route 83 and Eagles Nest Road in Antioch and crashed into a ditch. The impact caused the car to flip, killing Williams and seriously injuring Cooper and Holliman, police said.
Holliman remains hospitalized from injuries he suffered in the accident, authorities said, while Cooper is confined to a wheelchair.
Cooper has been linked to single armed robberies at gas stations in Zion on July 5 and Waukegan on July 12, two gas stations in Antioch on July 10 and July 15, Lake County authorities said. He is also linked to a single armed robbery in unincorporated McHenry County on July 13, authorities said.
Cooper’s case has been postponed until Thursday morning, Niehus said.