Prosecutors say a naturalized citizen who walked into Gurnee Mills carrying a replica rifle was also found with a real gun, had potentially surveilled the mall and had a photo of himself wearing body armor.
Bernard A. Karimu, 22, who is homeless, was charged with one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Lillian Lewis said Karimu went to Gurnee Mills, 6170 West Grand Avenue, on Thursday and parked his car near the Portillo’s restaurant and walked towards the mall.
Karimu called the Gurnee Police Department a short time later and said he did not know where his car was parked and needed assistance.
Officers responded, picked up Karimu and drove him around for a while until he indicated he saw his car.
Lewis said officers thought the incident was odd since Karimu was only at the mall for a short period of time and left his car in a very specific location near a large chain restaurant. They noted the interaction and cleared the call.
The Gurnee Police Department responded the next day, on Friday, to Gurnee Mills for a report of a man with a gun call.
Lewis said Karimu had gone to the mall with a weapon that resembled an AR-style rifle.
He parked his car at the end of the mall and walked into the shopping center with the weapon.
Karimu began pointing the weapon at the ceiling and walking through the common walkways with the weapon clearly displayed, Lewis said.
Lewis said a shopper encountered the gunman and put his hands into the air before fleeing for safety.
Karimu walked into Bass Pro Shops and an employee of the mall called 911.
Surveillance video captured the incident and Karimu had been at the mall with the weapon for approximately 10 minutes, Lewis said. The weapon had an orange tip and was determined to be an airsoft or BB gun.
The Gurnee Police Department became concerned, based on the nature of the first call and Karimu’s behavior, about the man potentially examining the mall’s entrances and parking areas as a security assessment.
Lewis said officers contacted the FBI to do a threat assessment on Karimu and learned that he was not born in the country but is a naturalized citizen and has social media accounts.
One of his social media accounts features a photo, which appears to be AI-generated, of himself in body armor. The investigation showed he appears to be homeless.
Officers determined a potential address in Beach Park where Karimu may have been staying and made contact with the homeowner, Lewis said.
The homeowner told officers they know Karimu and he sometimes stays at the home but is not a resident or renter.
Law enforcement searched the residence and located the AR-style weapon, which was confirmed to be a BB gun.
Lewis said they also located a real 9mm handgun in the basement. A loaded magazine, which was hidden, was also found.
Karimu does not have a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification card or concealed carry license.
Karimu admitted ownership of the weapons and said he got the handgun from a co-worker, Lewis said. He said he carries the gun to work and to where he stays.
The homeowner told police Karimu did not have permission to bring the weapons into their home.
Karimu claimed he is in the National Guard but that was determined to be false. He works at an electronics store, which is not located at Gurnee Mills.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Karimu pending trial, arguing he poses a danger to the community and he is showing “erratic, irrational and unpredictable behavior.”
A detention hearing was held Monday afternoon and Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris questioned whether Karimu was testing police response times to an active shooter.
Katris said Karimu appears to be suffering from delusional thoughts and erratic behavior. “But the problem is he’s in possession of a firearm. And that’s the problem. He’s unstable and unpredictable.”
Katris said a concealed carry holder could have seen Karimu with the weapon and opened fire in the crowded mall with Christmas shoppers.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition and remanded Karimu to the Lake County Jail after agreeing with prosecutors the man poses a danger and no pre-trial release conditions could mitigate the threat.
Karimu is scheduled to appear in court again on January 7 for a preliminary hearing.