A former Chicago man received a thirty-three-year sentence this week for his role in a violent 2022 Lombard tobacco shop robbery. Anthony Brown, 34, was held accountable for his acts after pleading guilty to aggravated battery—discharge of a firearm at an officer—and armed robbery with a firearm. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced the sentence, emphasizing the gravity of the attack on law enforcement authorities. Brown had been in jail since the incident, and bond had been rejected during his hearing in Bond Court on December 10, 2022.
The terrifying events occurred on December 8, 2022, when Lombard Police Department officers responded to an armed robbery complaint at Pipes and Tobacco, 54 W. Roosevelt Road. Brown and his accomplice, Pierre Thompson, were apprehended by police while escaping after conducting the crime. A firefight occurred, killing Thompson and shooting a police officer in the leg. During the heist, the intruders, both masked and armed, demanded cash and personal things from the store’s employee and owner, then assaulted the owner with a weapon.
Judge Mia McPherson’s decision at the sentencing was designed as a clear deterrent, emphasizing the danger of abusing public personnel. “Judge McPherson’s thirty-three-year sentence sends a strong message that if you attack the very people who have sworn an oath to protect our communities, you will pay a significant price,” says Berlin. The thankfulness for the injured officer’s survival extended to the professionalism and bravery demonstrated by the responding Lombard police officers throughout the tense circumstance.
Brown’s sentence structure ensures that he will spend the majority, if not all, of his foreseeable future in prison. He received 33 years for aggravated battery, to be served at 85%, and 21 years for armed robbery, to be served at 50%, with the terms running concurrently. This outcome is intended to highlight law enforcement’s dedication to protecting community safety and holding perpetrators accountable for their acts.
Responses to the sentencing have focused on the broader ramifications of such confrontations, particularly the hazards that police officers face on a daily basis and the role of the legal system in ensuring public safety. Expressing these views, Berlin said, “Every time a police officer reports for duty, they are putting their life on the line, and I commend the responding officers in this case for their courage and professionalism during this extremely tense incident.” Assistant State’s Attorneys Joseph Lindt and Amanda Meindl were lauded for their efforts in creating a strong case against Brown, which served justice. Details about Brown’s case and government statements can be found here.
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