Agents say he’s the last suspect still at large; $10,000 reward offered.
CHICAGO, IL— The FBI is searching for Gary “Bird” Luellen, 24, in connection with a string of armed carjackings on Chicago’s South Side and in the south suburb of Dolton in early 2023, calling the crew’s tactics “incredibly violent” and offering a $10,000 reward for his arrest.
Federal officials say Luellen is the only member of a four-man crew who has not been caught since a series of daytime holdups targeting muscle cars, including Dodge Challengers. The manhunt intensified this week after agents renewed a public appeal and added details about the suspect’s background and charges. A federal arrest warrant for Luellen was issued last year in the Northern District of Illinois, and investigators believe he remains in the Chicago area, where he has family ties. Authorities describe him as armed and dangerous.
Investigators say at least four carjackings were carried out over several weeks in early 2023, three on the South Side and one in Dolton. One of the incidents happened around the 12600 block of South Halsted Street on April 18, 2023, where a victim’s 2022 Dodge Challenger was taken at gunpoint. Special Agent Dustin Gourley, acting supervisor for the FBI Chicago Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force, said the crew often struck in public places during daylight — shopping centers and gas stations — and leveled guns directly at victims. “The brazenness — middle of the day, public areas … incredibly scary, incredibly violent,” Gourley said.
Agents allege the robbers displayed firearms with extended magazines and sometimes conversion devices that could make weapons fire automatically. According to the FBI, Luellen faces counts that include conspiracy, motor-vehicle theft by carjacking, and a violent crime/drugs/machine gun charge tied to the use or brandishing of a firearm during a felony. Court records name Chicago’s South Side locations as repeated targets and list Dolton as the suburban site, with the Halsted Street holdup specifically flagged in federal materials. Officials say three co-defendants were apprehended in separate operations; Luellen fled and has avoided capture for roughly two years. Investigators have not publicly detailed how the group selected its victims beyond favoring certain high-horsepower models, and they have not reported injuries in connection with the April 18 theft.
Chicago has grappled with waves of carjackings in recent years, though totals have fluctuated as enforcement tactics shifted and several prolific crews were dismantled. Federal and local authorities have increasingly moved such cases into federal court — particularly when firearms are involved or when investigators link crimes across jurisdictions — citing the Hobbs Act and related firearm statutes. In previous cases, crews targeting performance cars used stolen vehicles to reach their targets and fled along major corridors connecting city neighborhoods to adjacent suburbs. The FBI has also promoted a regional “Most Wanted” slate to spotlight violent fugitives considered threats to public safety, a roster that has featured suspects in murder, armed robbery and serial carjackings.
In Luellen’s case, a federal warrant was issued on Feb. 1, 2024, in Chicago’s federal court. The FBI lists his aliases as “Bird” and “Lil Bird.” He is described as a Black male, about six feet tall and 160 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair, originally from the Calumet Park area. Agents say the current push includes additional surveillance and coordination with local police districts on the South Side and south suburbs. Officials have not announced any new arrests tied to this crew since the renewed appeal, and they have not identified any vehicles linked to Luellen since the 2023 incidents. The FBI’s reward of up to $10,000 remains in effect for information leading to his arrest.
Gourley said the priority is to take Luellen into custody safely. He credited earlier arrests in the case to coordinated work by the Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force and partner agencies. Neighbors near busy retail corridors on the South Side said they have noticed more patrols during afternoon hours since the fall, and drivers at gas stations along Halsted Street described seeing unmarked cars parked near pumps. A shop worker in Dolton said traffic on Sibley Boulevard can clog quickly after any reported crime, complicating deliveries and detours. Authorities have not shared additional details about the timing of search operations or canvasses, citing safety and the need to protect ongoing leads.
As of Tuesday, authorities say the manhunt continues, with agents focusing on locations where Luellen has known ties in Chicago and nearby suburbs. Officials have not announced a news conference or court appearance, and no hearing dates are set. The next update is expected when the task force confirms a significant lead or an arrest.
Author note: Last updated December 9, 2025.