A Chicago delivery driver was killed by his own minivan in a late-night carjacking that prosecutors say was carried out by a suspect who already had eight felony convictions and was out on pre-trial release.
Story Snapshot
- Uber Eats and Amazon delivery driver Daniel Figueroa, 28, died after being struck by his own minivan during a carjacking near Loretto Hospital on Chicago’s West Side.
- Police arrested 33-year-old Montoya Perry of Maywood; prosecutors charged her with felony murder and vehicular hijacking.
- Authorities say three offenders were involved, with two still at large as investigators continue the search.
- A judge ordered Perry detained pending trial after her initial court appearance on February 25, 2026.
What happened near Loretto Hospital
Chicago police say the carjacking unfolded around 2 a.m. Monday, February 23, 2026, in the 5500-block of West Flournoy Street near Loretto Hospital in the South Austin neighborhood. Investigators say Daniel Figueroa had just completed a food delivery when three people attempted to steal his minivan. During the getaway, Figueroa was struck by the vehicle and later pronounced dead at Mt. Sinai Hospital.
According to reporting, a doctor connected to the delivery became suspicious after the order stopped updating and went outside, where he found Figueroa on the ground in a pool of blood. That detail matters because it underscores how quickly a routine delivery can turn catastrophic—and how little margin of safety independent contractors have when they’re working alone overnight in high-crime corridors. Police later recovered the stolen minivan, but the loss to the family is permanent.
Charges filed and the court’s first major decision
Prosecutors charged Montoya Perry, 33, with felony murder and vehicular hijacking, and police identified her as the driver of the minivan when it ran over Figueroa. Authorities arrested Perry just after noon the same day as the fatal incident. At her initial hearing on Wednesday, February 25, a judge ordered her detained pending trial. The next court date listed in coverage is March 18, 2026.
Family members used the court appearance to press for accountability while emphasizing that one arrest does not close the case. Reporting quoted Figueroa’s girlfriend, Sandra Guerrero, saying it was important to be present because Figueroa “didn’t deserve this” and because “we still need justice to be served,” noting that two suspects remain unaccounted for. His mother, Eleanor Rivera, described being “pretty numb” and wanting the justice process to proceed.
The pre-trial release question and what the public can verify
Coverage states Perry had eight prior felony convictions dating back to 2010, including crimes described as aggravated robberies, carjackings, fleeing police, and lying to police. Reporting also says she was out on pre-trial release for a separate incident that occurred two weeks before Figueroa was killed. Those are specific, checkable claims—and they are central to why the case has reignited debate about whether pre-trial release systems reliably protect the public from repeat offenders.
A grim reminder for gig workers and neighborhoods hit by carjackings
Figueroa’s schedule also reflects a reality many working families recognize: he finished a shift at Amazon and planned to work additional hours delivering for Uber Eats. That kind of hustle is common for households trying to keep up with rising costs, and it can push workers into late-night hours when carjackings and theft are more likely. A GoFundMe mentioned in reporting raised more than $12,000 to help Guerrero and her young son as funeral plans moved forward.
Some key details remain unresolved based on available reporting. Police say two accomplices are still at large, and the public reporting does not identify them or explain how they were tracked after the incident. The sources also note Perry appeared in court on crutches but do not explain how she was injured. Until those facts are established in court filings or additional reporting, conclusions should stay anchored to what has been charged and what investigators have publicly stated.
