Pregnant Woman’s Boyfriend Snatched Money, Left Her for Dead After Botched Robbery

A 21-year-old pregnant Chicago woman was shot during an attempted robbery of a drug dealer -and her boyfriend grabbed the money and fled the scene, leaving her dying in the street.

On March 6, 2023, 21-year-old Genesis Escobar, who was seven months pregnant, climbed into a car with a known drug dealer in the quiet Belmont Craign neighborhood of Chicago under the pretense of purchasing drugs. Her boyfriend, 35-year-old Chaz Blakes, stood outside near the vehicle.

Gunfire Erupts, Escobar Shot

As the transaction transpired, Blakes attempted to rob the drug dealer. Gunfire erupted, and Escobar was shot several times in the back, shoulder, and arm.

As the drug dealer attempted to flee in the vehicle, Escobar fell out of the car, bleeding and gasping for breath. Several hundred dollars flew out of the car with her. Blakes quickly grabbed as much money as he could, and then fled the scene, leaving his dying girlfriend lying in the street.

Escobar was rushed to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where she and her unborn baby were pronounced dead.

She had several misdemeanor convictions on her criminal record and was on probation when the incident happened.

Police initially thought the intended victim had shot Escobar, but determined Blakes was the shooter after viewing footage from video cameras at private homes that captured the entire incident. Several witnesses also came forward identifying Blakes as the shooter.

Blakes, nor the intended victim, were injured in the shooting.

Extensive Criminal History, Blakes Arrested

Blakes has an extensive criminal history, including a prior attempted murder charge. In 2008, Blakes was charged with attempted first-degree murder after shooting a man during a dispute in Chicago. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of aggravated assault and discharging a firearm and was sentenced to eight years of incarceration.

He also has two gun cases and a conviction for aggravated fleeing on his criminal record.

On October 28, 2023, Chicago Police charged 35-year-old Blakes with aggravated discharge of a firearm into a vehicle, three counts of discharging a firearm during an attempted robbery, and three counts of aggravated unlawful restraint. He remains in custody at the Cook County Jail in Chicago and is held without bond.

Crime in Chicago

Similar incidents occur frequently in the Windy City. In February 2024, a man on parole shot another guy 13 times after he was "ripped off" during a drug deal. In March 2024, three people were shot on the West Side during an attempted robbery. In November 2020, a 15-year-old shot a man over his backpack.

Chicago is well-known for its violent gangs, drug activity, and murder -and things in the city only seem to be getting worse. While violent crime is on the decline in most cities and states across America, violent crime in Chicago continues to rise. Between 2021 and 2023, the homicide rate in Chicago stood at 26.9 per 100,000 people. The city has a higher crime rate than the national average and one of the highest in America at a rate of 37 per 1,000 residents. The odds you’ll become a victim of a violent crime in Chicago stands at one in 27. The odds of being a victim of a property crime are substantially higher.

My condolences to Ms. Escobar's family.

Thanks for reading this story. Leave your comments below. Be sure to share on social media with your friends, but please do not copy/paste my stories on your website/group/etc. Thank you for understanding!

You can also read other true crime stories posted by True Crime Writer here on Vocal. Visit our main page to find something to read.