CHICAGO – A 17-year-old boy with a history in juvenile court involving guns, drugs and vehicle hijacking is accused of robbing and shooting another teen as he walked to school two months ago. James Lostion, 17, is also accused of robbing another victim hours after allegedly shooting the 17-year-old boy on Nov. 11.
In a written offering, Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Rusch said the victim was late for school when Lostion confronted him around 10 a.m. in the 5300 block of West Congress. Lostion lifted his sweatshirt to reveal a gun in his waistband and demanded the victim’s Moose Knuckle jacket. and Bape hoodie, with a combined value of $1,300 to $1,600, Rusch said.
The victim met both requirements. After Lostion found the victim’s iPhone, the victim gave him a fake password and Lostion started walking away. A few steps away, Lostion turned around with a gun in his hand and shot the victim several times, Rusch said. The boy had to have part of his intestines removed.
Rusch said the victim told police the robber was wearing a black sweatshirt with a design of a pink spider and gold stars. Investigators distributed photos of the robber to police in the city and an officer recognized Lostion.
A few hours after the shooting, Lostion allegedly robbed another victim at gunpoint in the 5200 block of West Harrison, officials said. Police recently arrested him in that case and executed a search warrant on his phone, Rusch said.
The search turned up images of Lostion holding guns and rifles and photos of a Bape sweatshirt and a Moose Knuckle jacket that were identical to the victim’s clothing, Rusch said. He said chat logs “suggest” that Lostion admitted to shooting someone while trying to sell the jacket and sweatshirt.
Rusch detailed Lostion’s juvenile history, saying it included a year of court supervision for unlawful gun possession in 2022 and probation for carjacking in 2023. Lostion was on probation for a 2023 case involving gun and drug possession at the time of the November shooting. and robberies, according to Rusch.
Judge David Kelly ordered Lostion arrested on charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery by discharge of a firearm and armed robbery with a firearm.
Chicago Police Detectives issued a community alert on November 16 who linked the two Nov. 11 robberies to similar crimes that occurred the same week in the 400 and 500 blocks of South Lockwood. Lostion has not been charged in these cases.
