A Chicago man was arrested after prosecutors say he pulled out a loaded stolen gun from his pocket and placed it on the counter at a gas station in Waukegan while trying to find his identification to give to the clerk.
Joshua Thompson, 19, of Chicago, was charged with four counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and attempted possession of a controlled substance.
The Waukegan Police Department responded around 1:29 p.m. on December 13 to the Mobil gas station, 1900 Washington Street, for a report of a man with a gun.
The gas station attendant told 911 dispatchers a male placed a gun on the counter inside the store, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Ayah Elfarra.
The attendant said Thompson tried to buy cigars and the man pulled out a gun and put it on the counter so he could look for his identification.
The clerk asked Thompson if the gun was real and Thompson said it was but that it was fine because he had a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card, Elfarra said.
Thompson does not have a FOID or concealed carry license. He is also under the age of 21.
A police report said the clerk refused to complete the transaction because Thompson could not produce his identification.
Officers spotted Thompson, who matched the description of the suspect, in the area as he met up with two other males.
They conducted a pat down and found him in possession of a 9mm handgun, the report said.
The gun, which was located in Thompson’s waistband, was loaded and determined to be stolen out of Chicago.
Elfarra said four bags containing a white powdery substance that field tested positive for cocaine were also located.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Thompson in the Lake County Jail pending trial.
Lake County Judge Ari Fisz granted the petition after finding he poses a threat to the community.