A Routine Delivery Turns Deadly (Image Credits: Cwbchicago.com)
Chicago – A 28-year-old Uber Eats driver lost his life early Monday morning in a violent carjacking outside Loretto Hospital, prompting swift police action against the woman accused of running him over during the theft.[1]
A Routine Delivery Turns Deadly
Daniel Figueroa pulled up to the hospital entrance around 2 a.m. to drop off a food order for a doctor. He left his light blue Dodge Caravan running unattended while he stepped inside.[1]
Montoya Perry and two unidentified accomplices seized the opportunity. Perry slid into the driver’s seat as Figueroa emerged from the building and spotted the theft in progress. He sprinted toward the moving vehicle and clutched the passenger door handle in a desperate bid to stop them.[1]
Perry accelerated anyway. Figueroa lost his grip, fell to the pavement, and suffered a fatal head injury when the rear tire rolled over him. Hospital surveillance cameras captured the entire sequence, along with additional video footage from the scene.[1]
Defiant Social Media Boast
Within hours of the incident, Perry turned to Facebook to share her side. She posted: “The [expletive] we had to do to get home is crazy… but we made it ** if u missing a car, u can come get it! We don’t want it!!”[1]
The message appeared to mock the vehicle’s owner while offering its location. Prosecutors later highlighted this post during court proceedings as evidence of Perry’s callous attitude. The timing – shortly after Figueroa’s death – drew sharp condemnation from authorities.[1]
Police Track and Arrest Suspect
Chicago detectives wasted no time. They traced the stolen van across the city and suburbs before locating it parked in Maywood around 11:30 a.m. the same day.[1]
Officers set up surveillance and moved in as Perry approached the vehicle and climbed into the driver’s seat. She wore the same brown jacket and pink pants visible in the hospital footage. During questioning, Perry admitted taking the van and seeing Figueroa chase it before she sped away.[1]
Prosecutors charged her with first-degree murder in the course of a forcible felony and vehicular hijacking. The two accomplices remain at large.[1]
Extensive Criminal Background
Perry’s record spans years of offenses. Convictions include forgery, unlawful gun possession, robbery, burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, and escape from custody.[1]
- Forgery and identity deception, often by posing as her sister during stops.
- Multiple vehicle-related crimes, including recent flight from Melrose Park police two weeks earlier for driving on a suspended license.
- Violent felonies like robbery and burglary.
- Escape and weapons charges.
Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara detailed this history at Perry’s Wednesday detention hearing before Judge James Murphy III. The judge approved the state’s request to hold her without bail, citing the severity of the charges and her background.[1]
Justice for a Hard-Working Father
Figueroa leaves behind a family grappling with profound loss. Prosecutors described him as a young, hard-working father whose life ended abruptly over a stolen van.[1]
Pekara emphasized the brutality: Perry ran over the victim, killing him in the process. The case underscores rising concerns about carjackings in Chicago, where delivery drivers face heightened risks during late-night shifts.[1]
Key Takeaways
- A hospital security video documented the fatal carjacking in full.
- Perry’s Facebook post offered the van’s location hours after the killing.
- Her lengthy rap sheet includes violence, theft, and evasion tactics.
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in everyday routines. As Perry awaits trial, Figueroa’s loved ones seek closure amid unthinkable grief. What do you think about this case? Tell us in the comments.[1]
