CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced 31-year-old Joshua Walker to nine years in prison for his role in a 2021 armed carjacking outside the Willis Tower, a crime prosecutors say was just one in a string of violent offenses committed by members of the Beamteam gang across Chicago.
Early Morning Ambush Outside Willis Tower
According to prosecutors, the carjacking took place on January 20, 2021, when a rideshare driver was sitting inside his gray 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander parked at 233 South Wacker Drive. A stolen Dodge Journey pulled up alongside him. Walker exited the vehicle, pointed a firearm at the victim, and demanded both his car and cellphone.
The victim complied, and the carjackers sped away in both vehicles. Surveillance later tracked Walker as he drove the stolen vehicle to his home and attempted to sell the victim’s phone at a Boost Mobile store.
Gang Ties and Social Media Boasts
Walker, who prosecutors say is a member of the “Beamteam” street crew, was charged with carjacking and using a machine gun during a crime of violence. He received two years for the carjacking and seven consecutive years for the weapons charge.
In a Facebook post made shortly after the incident, Walker referenced further violence, allegedly writing:
“Can’t be scared to take a life … we already taking risks.”
His accomplice, who has not yet been sentenced, is accused of murdering another carjacking victim in Oak Park just hours after the Willis Tower incident. Federal prosecutors have indicated they may pursue the death penalty in that case.
Judge’s Decision and Prosecutorial Argument
U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland handed down the sentence this month after Walker pleaded guilty to the federal charges. Prosecutors pushed for the lengthy sentence by detailing Walker’s pattern of violent crimes across multiple years.
The sentencing memo highlighted that Beamteam members often used laser-equipped firearms not just in conflicts with rival gangs but also during armed robberies and carjackings targeting ordinary citizens.
Additional Crimes and Criminal Pattern
Federal officials connected Walker to a series of armed robberies in May 2019, including street stickups and multiple Dunkin’ restaurant holdups in early 2021. These crimes show a pattern of organized, gang-driven violence targeting businesses and civilians across the Chicago metro area and southwest suburbs.
Digital Trail of Confession
As part of their evidence, prosecutors played a voice message Walker had sent to another man after a spree of thefts:
“I ain’t even gonna lie to you, I been robbin’ people all morning … I just told my grandma the same thing, but I been robbin’ people all morning.”
This message, along with his online posts, helped bolster the government’s case that Walker played a significant role in the Beamteam’s violent operations.
What’s Next
Walker’s sentencing closes one chapter of the investigation, but federal prosecutors continue to build cases against other Beamteam members. Officials remain particularly focused on the murder linked to the group and whether capital charges may be warranted for those involved.
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