A man has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for carjacking three vehicles at gunpoint and shooting one of the victims in Chicago. According to court records, Jamari Edwards committed the carjackings in August 2022 in the West Englewood neighborhood. The first incident took place at a coffee shop drive-thru, while the other two occurred outside a convenience store at a gas station.
In each case, Edwards pointed a firearm at the driver and demanded their car keys. During the coffee shop incident, after receiving the key and as the driver exited, Edwards shot him in the leg. Before firing, he reportedly asked, “Why are you not scared?”
Edwards, who is 23 years old and from Chicago, was arrested later that year and has remained in custody since his arrest. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal charges related to carjacking and firearms offenses.
On September 4, 2025, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins imposed a sentence of 22 years in prison.
The sentencing was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office; and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Simar Khera represented the government during proceedings.
“JAMARI EDWARDS carjacked the vehicles in August 2022 in the West Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. The first carjacking occurred in the drive-thru area of a coffee shop, while the other two occurred outside of a convenience store at a gas station. In each of the carjackings, Edwards pointed a gun at the driver and demanded the keys to the car. In the coffee shop carjacking, Edwards shot the driver in the leg after the driver had already given Edwards the key and exited the vehicle. Before shooting the driver, Edwards asked him words to the effect of, ‘Why are you not scared?’”
“Edwards, 23, of Chicago, was arrested in 2022 and has remained in law enforcement custody since then. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm charges.”
“On Sept. 4, 2025, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Edwards to 22 years in federal prison.”
“The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Douglas S. DePodesta; Special Agent-in-Charge of FBI’s Chicago Field Office; and Larry Snelling; Superintendent of Chicago Police Department.”
“The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Simar Khera.”
