Peoria, IL – Peoria Police announced Thursday new developments in a December 6 vehicle hijacking investigation, with two juveniles now facing multiple felony charges.
According to the Peoria Police Department, detectives and task force officers with the Greater Peoria Auto Crimes Task Force (GPACT) identified a 16-year-old male as the suspect who allegedly carjacked a victim in the Hardee’s drive-thru during the incident.
On December 16, 2025, officers and the U.S. Marshals Service located the 16-year-old at a residence on South Westmoreland Avenue. A 17-year-old male wanted on an unrelated warrant was also found at the location. Both were taken into custody without incident and transported to the Peoria Police Department for interviews.
Investigators executed a search warrant at the residence, seizing evidence connected to the hijacking along with stolen identity materials. The 16-year-old faces charges of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking (two counts), Aggravated Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, and an active warrant. The 17-year-old faces Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle and an active warrant.
The arrests stem from a December 6 pursuit in which officers tracked a stolen GMC Sierra occupied by several juveniles. Police say one suspect forced a driver out of a black Nissan at gunpoint in a Hardee’s parking lot before fleeing. Due to safety concerns, police discontinued the pursuit as the stolen Nissan drove erratically.
Both suspects remain in juvenile detention as the investigation continues.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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