2 Fugitives Sought in Wheaton College Kidnapping and Robbery

WHEATON, IL — Three men kidnapped a 21-year-old Wheaton College student last week, plucking him off a Glen Ellyn street, holding him at gunpoint in an SUV, and forcing him to use his ATM card to drain his bank account, according to the DuPage County state's attorney.

The student was taken on the morning of Friday, Aug. 26, as he left a Starbucks. Two men rushed him, told him they'd shoot him, and forced him into a SUV, police said.

"He had just left Starbucks with a cup of coffee in his hand," said DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin at a press conference outside the courthouse.

The trio drove the student to various banks in Glen Ellyn and in Chicago, taking $1,600 from him, then dropped him on a Chicago street. The thieves left the student with $20 and his iPhone, police said, at about 11 a.m. Saturday.

Berlin called the crime "a brazen, violent act in broad daylight" and promised "the full force of the law" would be brought to bear on those responsible.

They took $1,100 at two Glen Ellyn banks, and then took another $500 at two Chicago banks, police said.

Two people remain at large, but a third man was taken into custody and appeared in court Friday afternoon. Abeet Ramos, 18, of South Elgin, is charged with kidnapping, armed robbery and unlawful restraint. Police said he was the driver of the car. His bail was set Friday at $3 million. Prosecutors said Ramos was out on bond on a charge out of Kane County.

Police are looking for 23-year-old Jeremy Jones, 23, and a 17-year-old boy. An "exhaustive search" for them has taken place throughout the week, Berlin said. Jones has been identified as the gunman.

Police said the public should consider them "armed and dangerous." Crimestoppers has put up a $1,000 reward for information leading to their arrest.

Ramos was tracked down after police reviewed security camera footage and identified his vehicle, police said.

Wheaton College released a statement Friday.

"The Glen Ellyn Police Department believes that this student was the victim of a random attack and does not believe there is an ongoing threat to the campus community. We are thankful the student was not physically harmed and are committed to his ongoing support needs. The Wheaton College Department of Public Safety has been working closely with the Glen Ellyn Police Department to assist in their investigation."

At a 5 p.m. press conference Friday, Glen Ellyn Police Chief Phillip North said the kidnappers forced the victim to disable the tracking device on his iPhone.