It was supposed to be a day of anticipation and joy for Mark Arceta and his family. Instead, September 12, 2025, became a day marked by tragedy on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, when a violent smash-and-grab robbery spiraled into a fatal collision that claimed the life of the 40-year-old father—just hours before the birth of his son.
According to Fox News and The Independent, Mark Arceta was on his way to his final work shift at a local hospital before taking paternity leave. The morning was like any other—until it wasn’t. As he drove his usual route, his car was struck by a Kia speeding through downtown Chicago, driven by 30-year-old Dejuan Wingard, who police say was fleeing a high-profile robbery at the Louis Vuitton store on Michigan Avenue.
The details of the crime are as brazen as they are chilling. Court records and statements from the Chicago Police Department reveal that a crew of at least a dozen suspects arrived at the luxury retailer in six stolen vehicles just before 5 a.m. The group’s method was calculated: a pickup truck was reversed into the store’s windows, shattering glass and security alike, as the crew stormed inside. In mere minutes, they made off with nearly $700,000 worth of designer merchandise, loading the loot into their waiting getaway vehicles.
Surveillance footage captured the chaos. As the suspects fled, Wingard—behind the wheel of a Kia—accelerated to nearly 100 mph, according to police. Prosecutors later clarified he was moving at about 77 mph, running multiple red lights in his desperate attempt to escape. It was during this reckless flight that he collided with Arceta’s Honda CRV, ending a life and devastating a family.
Other vehicles from the robbery scene were also involved in wild attempts to evade law enforcement. Prosecutors told The Independent that an Infiniti used in the heist jumped a concrete barrier and blew out its tires. Two suspects, Anthony Hemphill, 22, and Keith Perkins, 19, tried to flee on foot but were quickly apprehended. As of the weekend following the robbery, two additional suspects remained at large.
In total, at least seven individuals—Wingard, Hemphill, Perkins, Darius Bowdry, 30, Harvey Fisher, 26, Alton Jackson, 37, and Kellen McMiller, 35—were charged with first-degree murder, burglary, and felony theft. The suspects’ criminal histories are extensive: Darius Bowdry has been arrested 12 times as an adult in Chicago, while Harvey Fisher’s record includes six arrests. Alton Jackson, who was out on parole after serving a sentence for firearm possession, has been arrested five times since turning 18. Kellen McMiller, ironically known as an anti-violence “peacekeeper” in some circles, had at least four fugitive warrants at the time of the robbery, authorities told Fox News.
Despite the magnitude of the theft, not all of the stolen goods were recovered. By September 13, only $270,000 worth of merchandise had been returned to the store, leaving the majority of the haul unaccounted for, as reported by The Independent.
The impact of the tragedy on Arceta’s family has been profound. His girlfriend, Roanne Masangkay, who was pregnant at the time, delivered their son just one day after Mark’s death. She described the moment she learned of the accident in an interview with Fox News: “They did not want to tell me because I’m pregnant. They did not want me to worry. So, I just grabbed the phone, and then I couldn’t believe it.”
Masangkay’s grief is compounded by the shock of losing her partner so suddenly. She told Fox News, “I want my son to know his dad was so loved. He gave me everything I wanted. He was selfless, generous, and never turned his back on people who needed help.” The couple’s newborn son is joined by a 16-month-old daughter and a 10-year-old stepdaughter, all now facing a future without their father.
Mark Arceta’s mother, Alejandra, echoed the family’s heartbreak in comments to CBS News Chicago. “I miss him very much already,” she said. “He’s healthy, no sickness, and then he will just die like that very fast, it’s very hurting.”
The community response has been one of solidarity and support. A GoFundMe page titled “Please help the family of Mark Carlo Arceta” was set up to assist the family through their loss. The campaign has already raised more than $55,000, with friends and relatives urging others to “come together” for Masangkay, her newborn, and Arceta’s daughters. The page describes the newborn son as “the light given to us in this time of darkness.”
The case has reignited debate in Chicago about crime, policing, and the effectiveness of the city’s criminal justice system. With several of the accused having long criminal records and some out on parole or with outstanding warrants, questions are being raised about how such individuals were able to participate in such a violent and coordinated crime. The fact that Kellen McMiller, known in some circles as a “peacekeeper,” was among those charged, has only deepened the sense of frustration and anger among residents.
For many, the tragedy is yet another example of the real human cost behind high-profile property crimes. While smash-and-grab robberies have become more frequent in major cities across the United States, the fatal consequences of this particular heist have brought new urgency to calls for reform. Some community members are demanding stricter penalties and better monitoring of repeat offenders, while others are calling for more resources for crime prevention and youth intervention programs.
Meanwhile, Arceta’s family is left to pick up the pieces. As they mourn the loss of a beloved son, partner, and father, they are also welcoming a new life into the world—a bittersweet reminder of both what has been lost and what endures. “He is the light given to us in this time of darkness,” the family wrote on their fundraising page, a sentiment that resonates well beyond their immediate circle.
For Chicago, the events of September 12 serve as a sobering reminder of the unpredictable and far-reaching consequences of violent crime. For the Arceta family, every day forward is a testament to resilience, love, and the hope that justice—and support from their community—will help them find a way through the darkness.
