Elmhurst Police charged two men Friday, Oct. 30, for robbing two Elmhurst College students as they were walking home from class.

Brandon P. Johnson, 20, of 704 Howard St., Elmhurst, and Darnell S. Olive, 18, of 2122 W. Smethwick Lane, Hoffman Estates, were charged with aggravated robbery.

Police said Johnson and Olive punched the victims in the head at Elm and Second streets Tuesday, Oct. 27, and produced a black semi-automatic handgun, later determined by officers to be an Airsoft replica.

Detective Cmdr. Dan Buenz said the department worked tirelessly for three days to find the suspects.

“They used electronic media technology and astute detective skills,” he said. “Everything from cell phone technology to social networking stuff played into those investigative angles.”

Buenz said street robberies are very rare in Elmhurst, estimating they happen once every few years.

Aggravated robbery is a Class 1 Felony punishable by 4 to 15 years or extended to 15 to 30 years depending on certain circumstances. Buenz said the offenders will likely see more charges, such as aggravated battery, upon indictment.

“When we get stuff like this, we take it very seriously. That’s why these guys were on it running straight through the week,” Buenz said. “Friday we could’ve gone home, but we were at a point where we needed to continue through a point of fruition. It was a very aggressive and tenacious investigation.”