Speeding driver killed with stolen SUV just two weeks after being released in another stolen SUV case, prosecutors say

In a shocking turn of events, a man who had walked out of court while awaiting trial on a felony stolen vehicle charge in June 2024 has now been accused of killing a 25-year-old man just two weeks later. Dujan Lucas, 24, is now facing charges for causing the death of a young man while speeding through a red light in yet another stolen car. This tragic incident marks the 37th case of someone charged with killing or attempting to kill someone while on felony pretrial release in Chicago that year.

The chain of events began on June 6, 2024, when Lucas was arrested for possessing a stolen Dodge Durango. The vehicle was believed to have been used in a shoplifting incident at a Louis Vuitton store inside a Nordstrom, where around $22,000 worth of merchandise was stolen, as per a CPD report.

Fast forward two weeks, and Lucas was allegedly driving a stolen black 2021 Jeep Cherokee SRT-8 at a speed of 73 mph when he ran a red light at the intersection of 83rd Street and South Kedzie Avenue. The Jeep collided with a white Honda HRV traveling west on 83rd Street, resulting in the tragic death of Raul Palacios Carvajal, the driver of the Honda.

Following the crash, Lucas and a passenger fled the scene, but investigators were able to gather crucial evidence. Blood from the Jeep’s deployed airbag was collected and sent for DNA testing, which ultimately matched Lucas. Additionally, a police officer who had previously arrested Lucas for the stolen Dodge Durango positively identified him as the driver fleeing from the crash site.

As a result of these findings, Judge James Murphy III granted the state’s detention petition, ordering Lucas to remain in custody pending trial on charges of reckless homicide by motor vehicle and failure to report a fatal accident. The case involving the stolen motor vehicle from 2024 is still ongoing.

The “Not Horrible” Series

This report is part of our ongoing coverage of individuals accused of committing serious offenses while on pretrial release for felony charges. This series began in November 2019 after Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans made comments suggesting that no “horrible incidents” had occurred under the court’s bond reform initiative.

It is important to note that the actual number of crimes committed by individuals awaiting trial for felony allegations is likely much higher than reported here. Chicago Police Department data shows that charges have been brought in less than 5% of non-fatal shootings and 33% of murders since 2017. For more stories from the “Not Horrible” series, click here.

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