Ezekiel Thompson, the second of two cousins charged with the armed robbery of a Verizon store in Lisle, was sentenced on Mar. 10 to thirty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections following his guilty plea to one count of Armed Robbery with a Firearm. The sentence was handed down by Judge Joseph Bugos, according to an announcement from DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement and prosecutors in DuPage County to address violent crime. Both Ezekiel Thompson and his cousin Arron Thompson were held without bond after their initial court appearance on February 3, 2020. Arron Thompson previously pleaded guilty and received a twenty-two-year sentence in January 2025.
According to authorities, on February 1, 2020, the Thompsons entered the Verizon store at 1104 Ogden Avenue wearing hoods and masks and armed with a gun. They threatened the lone employee at gunpoint, forced him to open a vault containing cell phones, and ordered him to fill a duffel bag with electronics. The employee’s arms and legs were bound with zip ties before the men stole his wallet, car keys, and fled in his vehicle. Police from Lisle, Woodridge, Downers Grove, and Darien collaborated on the investigation that led to their arrest after a brief foot chase.
Berlin said: “Cousins Ezekiel and Arron Thompson, without any concern whatsoever for public safety or the rule of law, armed themselves with a gun, disguised their identity and threatened at gunpoint an innocent store employee, causing so much fear that the employee literally begged for his life. This type of violent crime has no place in civilized society and in DuPage County, law enforcement stands ready to confront this type of behavior and hold anyone accused of such accountable. I commend the Lisle, Woodridge, Downers Grove and Darien Police Departments for their cooperative efforts that led to the apprehension of both defendants in this matter and for their ongoing commitment to public safety. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Bethany Jackson and Adam Frahm for their efforts that led to significant sentences for both Ezekiel and Arron Thompson.”
While this case draws attention due to its severity within DuPage County’s criminal justice system, other aspects of county life continue as usual. For example, during the 2022-23 school year there was an average student-to-teacher ratio of thirteen-to-one across county schools serving over 142,000 students with more than ten thousand full-time faculty members according to state education data. Teacher absenteeism rates reached 38.3% locally compared with Illinois’ statewide average of 35.6% as reported by state sources.
Demographic trends also shape local education: York Community High School had the highest enrollment of white students (1,844), Metea Valley High School had the most multiracial students (162), Westmore Elementary School recorded ten Pacific Islander students—the highest among county schools—and Addison Trail High School enrolled more Hispanic students than any other school at 1,259 according to state records.
The sentencing concludes one chapter in this high-profile case while underscoring ongoing challenges faced by local communities regarding both public safety concerns and educational needs.
