Bob Berlin DuPage County State's Attorney's Office | Twitter Website
Bob Berlin DuPage County State's Attorney's Office | Twitter Website
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Bensenville Chief of Police Dan Schulze announced that Judge Leah Bendik granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for a Chicago man accused of robbing a Bensenville gas station at knifepoint. The accused, Willie Weaver, 47, of the 2400 block of W. Adams Street appeared in First Appearance Court charged with one count of Armed Robbery, a Class X Felony.
On May 3, 2024, around 10:50 p.m., it is alleged that Weaver followed a clerk into the Casey’s Gas Station at 1225 East Devon Avenue. After the clerk unlocked an employee-only section of the store, Weaver allegedly prevented him from locking the door behind him. He then purportedly pointed a knife with an approximately three-inch blade at the retreating clerk and forced him to open a cash register. After a brief struggle during which Weaver allegedly lunged at the clerk with the knife, he took $129 from the register and fled in a black Nissan.
The investigation led to Weaver as a suspect. On May 9, detectives conducted a traffic stop on the black Nissan allegedly driven by Weaver near Elmhurst Road and Touhy Avenue. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Berlin stated that Mr. Weaver threatened an innocent man trying to earn his living. "In DuPage County we have zero tolerance for armed violence as alleged in this case," he said. He commended the Bensenville Police Department for their work in identifying and apprehending Weaver and thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Michael Pingaj, Michael Paup and Philip Ungar for preparing a strong case against him.
Schulze expressed pride in his officers' efforts leading to Weaver's arrest and thanked State’s Attorney Bob Berlin for their continued prosecution of those who threaten public safety in DuPage County.
Weaver's next court appearance is scheduled for June 3, 2024, before Judge Mia McPherson.
The public is reminded that the complaint contains only charges and is not proof of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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