A paroled gun offender has been imprisoned after Chicago police detectives linked him to an armed carjacking by reviewing his social media posts, according to officials.
Fredrick Buchanan, 20, has been on parole since December for two other gun crimes. Prosecutors claim he was one of four armed men who carjacked a 66-year-old man last month.
Around 1:11 p.m. on March 4, the victim was outside his residence in the 4400 block of South Berkeley when masked shooters approached him in a Nissan Maxima with stolen plates. Prosecutors said the guys demanded the keys to the victim’s red BMW X3, and Buchanan stole $200 cash from the victim’s trouser pocket.
According to court documents, a detective familiar with the hijacking crew analyzed security footage and identified the pistol carried by one of the carjackers as the same gun seen being handed in films posted to Buchanan’s Instagram account. Other social media images allegedly depicted Buchanan in the Nissan Maxima that the hijackers drove on March 4. While executing a search warrant on Buchanan’s phone, investigators discovered additional proof of his involvement, according to court records.
According to a CPD investigation, Buchanan was also tied to the armed carjacking of a 29-year-old male on March 10 in the 7900 block of South Ingleside. However, authorities have not charged him with the offense.
Judge James Costello held Buchanan, citing his “extensive” record of gun offenses and violent violence. State officials have suggested that they want to reassess Buchanan’s parole status in light of the latest charges.
