Murder charge filed in carjacking that killed Uber Eats driver in Chicago

Woman in court for deadly Uber Eats carjacking

A woman from Maywood is now charged in the deadly carjacking of an Uber Eats driver.

CHICAGO - A 33-year-old woman has been charged with murder in the death of an Uber Eats driver who was fatally struck during a carjacking earlier this week on Chicago’s West Side.

On Wednesday, Montoya Perry of Maywood appeared in court for a detention hearing, where a judge ordered her to remain behind bars pending trial. 

What we know:

Perry was arrested Monday afternoon in Maywood and has been charged with one felony count of first-degree murder and one felony count of vehicular hijacking, according to Chicago police.

She is accused in the killing of Daniel L. Figueroa, 28, of Westmont.

Police said Perry was identified as one of the offenders involved in a carjacking that occurred about 10 hours before her arrest. During the incident in the 5500 block of West Flournoy Street, Figueroa was struck and killed by his own vehicle as the offenders fled the scene, police said.

He was found unresponsive around 2 a.m. Monday near Lotus Avenue and Flournoy Street in the city’s Austin neighborhood and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he later died.

Montoya Perry | Chicago police

On Wednesday, prosecutors revealed new details about Figueroa's death. They said he was dropping off a food delivery for a doctor at Loretto Hospital when he parked his light blue Dodge Caravan near the front entrance and left it running. As he approached the hospital doors, surveillance video captured Perry and two others entering his vehicle, with Perry getting into the driver's seat, court documents stated. 

According to prosecutors, Figueroa noticed people inside his van and began running toward it. As he got closer, Perry accelerated, knocking him to the ground. Court documents state that she then ran him over with the rear passenger tire. 

The doctor who placed the delivery order noticed the driver was near the hospital's main entrance, but he hadn't yet received a notification that his delivery was dropped off, prosecutors said.

He went outside and found Figueroa on the street in a pool of blood and called 911, court documents state. 

Perry was found hours later in Maywood with Figueroa's stolen van after police used license plate reader technology to track it. As officers approached her, she ran from the police and discarded the car keys. She was taken into custody shortly thereafter. 

What they're saying:

Emotions were running high at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on Wednesday, and following the hearing, an argument erupted between the two families. Security responded to break up the altercation. 

Afterwards, Figueroa’s mother spoke about the pain of losing her son.

"I just don't want this to happen to anyone else's family. He's 28 years old," said Eleanor Rivera, Figueroa's mom. "I'm not going to let his name go in vain, I love you Daniel, wherever you're at. I just pray with the help of the justice system, and everyone involved, that Daniel gets justice."

Fox Chicago reached out to Uber Eats, who confirmed Figueroa was a driver for their company. Their statement is shared below:

"We’re incredibly saddened by this tragic loss, and our thoughts are with their family and loved ones as they navigate this unimaginably difficult time. We’ve reached out to police and will assist them however we can," an Uber spokesperson said.

A GoFundMe was launched by Figueroa's partner, Sandra Guerrero, who said his death left her with "unimaginable grief."

Loretto Hospital CEO Tesa Anewishki issued this statement on the incident:

"We are aware of the tragic incident reported Monday morning involving an individual slain near our campus. On behalf of Loretto Hospital, our prayers and condolences go out to the individual’s family and loved ones. Our focus remains on supporting the safety, health, and well-being of the community we serve during this difficult time. We are cooperating fully with local law enforcement on this active investigation."

Dig deeper:

At the time of Figueroa’s death, Perry was out of jail on pre-trial release in a separate case stemming from a Feb. 11 arrest in Melrose Park, where she allegedly resisted and obstructed officers during a traffic stop.

She has a lengthy rap sheet dating back to 2010, including eight prior felony convictions for aggravated robbery, burglary, and forgery. 

What's next:

Perry's next court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18.