Seven Charged in Deadly Mag Mile Crash-and-Grab, One Suspect Posed with Governor Pritzker While Wanted in Four States

Chicago, IL – Seven individuals have been charged with murder and other offenses following a violent smash-and-grab burglary at a Louis Vuitton store on Chicago's Magnificent Mile that resulted in the death of an innocent motorist. Among those charged is Kellen McMiller, who days prior to the September 11 incident, was photographed with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at a "peacekeeper" event, despite allegedly being wanted by authorities in four states. The incident involved the theft of nearly $700,000 in merchandise and a high-speed chase that tragically killed Mark Arceta, a 40-year-old expectant father.

Kellen McMiller, identified as one of the alleged perpetrators, had posed with Governor Pritzker on September 5, 2025, during an event for the state-funded Peacekeepers program. According to court records, McMiller had outstanding arrest warrants in Cook County, Florida, Wisconsin, and Indiana at the time of the photo. Governor Pritzker's office expressed being "extremely troubled" by the individual's alleged involvement and stated they expect full accountability, while a press release touting the Peacekeepers program's success, which included McMiller's photo, has since been removed.

The deadly incident unfolded around 5 a.m. on September 11 when a group of burglars used a pickup truck to ram into the Louis Vuitton store at 919 N. Michigan Ave. After stealing an estimated $700,000 worth of luxury goods, the suspects fled in multiple vehicles. One of the getaway cars, a Kia, allegedly driven by Dejuan Wingard, collided with a Honda CRV driven by Mark Arceta at Michigan Avenue and Ohio Street, killing him while he was on his way to his last shift before paternity leave.

Arceta's fiancée, Roanne Masangkay, gave birth to their son the day after the crash, leaving her and their family devastated. McMiller, Wingard, along with Darius Bowdry, Harvey Fisher, Alton Jackson, Anthony Hemphill, and Keith Perkins, face charges including first-degree murder, burglary, and felony theft. Prosecutors stated that nearly $270,000 of the stolen merchandise was recovered, but a significant portion remains missing.

The involvement of McMiller has brought increased scrutiny to the Peacekeepers program, which receives substantial government funding annually. Peter Cunningham, associated with Chicago CRED, another organization involved in the program, stated that they prioritize community relationships over criminal records for participants. He explained that many participants are "justice involved" and that excluding them would hinder the program's effectiveness, though he clarified McMiller was not affiliated with Chicago CRED. Some critics, like former Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel, have called the governor's advance team "incompetent" for allowing the photo opportunity given McMiller's wanted status.