Third suspect arrested in armed robbery of University student

By Daily Illini Staff Report
May 15, 2015

Cody Taylor, 17, will face formal charges for the armed robbery of a University student on May 1 in the 1000 block of Lincoln Avenue, said Julia Rietz, Illinois state’s attorney, in an email Friday.

Taylor, who is currently on probation for robbery out of Cook County, was arrested by University of Illinois Police Department detectives Thursday, and will be charged as an adult, per the law.

Devon Hart and Phillip Knee were also suspects in the robbery and arrested on May 1 shortly following the incident. The detectives were led to Taylor through posts on Hart’s Facebook page.

According to the victim, the three men approached him around 9:30 p.m. while he was walking on Lincoln Avenue on May 1, one of the suspects held a handgun. The victim reported the men stole his cell phone, wallet and keys before fleeing.

Hart and Knee were both arrested within two hours, one in possession of the victim’s cell phone. Taylor was not arrested until two weeks later and admitted to being the gunman in the robbery when interviewed.

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    According to Rietz, armed robbery is an extended class X felony, punishable by from 21 to 45 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

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