A Gurnee teen who got probation for possessing a 3D-printed gun was arrested for running from officers with a loaded gun in North Chicago after he was spotted walking with a group of males wearing sheistys in 90-degree weather.
Dejavion Irby-Johnson, 19, of Gurnee, was indicted this week on one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a person with a prior conviction, all Class 2 felonies.
A North Chicago Police Department investigator was in the area of the 1400 block of Renken Avenue around 7 p.m. on September 3 when he noticed four men wearing sweatshirts and face coverings known as sheistys.
The clothing drew the investigator’s attention because it was between 85 and 95 degrees outside, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said.
The investigator recognized Irby-Johnson from prior contacts and knew him to be associated with a criminal street gang called the One-Way Crew, according to McConnell.
Irby-Johnson was not wearing a sheisty but had on a black hoodie with white lettering on the back and was holding his right arm bent at a near 90-degree angle under the hoodie, pressed against his body and not moving, McConnell said.
McConnell said the investigator knows from his training and experience that holding an arm still against the body under outer clothing is often a sign of carrying a concealed firearm.
The group crossed in front of the investigator’s squad car at a stop sign at 14th Street and Renken Avenue and Irby-Johnson appeared nervous, hesitated while crossing and avoided eye contact, McConnell said.
The four then walked into the Regency apartment complex, which is an area where the investigator has previously responded to shootings and where numerous weapons arrests have occurred, McConnell said.
McConnell said Irby-Johnson continued to look around and back at the investigator while keeping his arm bent under his hoodie.
The investigator pulled into the complex’s parking lot, got out of his squad car, identified himself as a police officer and told Irby-Johnson to stop.
Irby-Johnson allegedly kept walking with his hand under his hoodie, turned around and stared at the investigator and then ran when he was told a second time to stop.
McConnell said the investigator chased Irby-Johnson through multiple alleys and saw him throw a black handgun into bushes as he ran.
The investigator stayed to recover the gun while other officers who had been called for backup took Irby-Johnson into custody after a brief continued pursuit, McConnell said.
The gun was a Glock 21 Gen 4 .45 caliber handgun loaded with multiple rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber.
McConnell said Irby-Johnson is under 21, does not have a Firearm Owner’s Identification card or a concealed carry license and has a prior felony weapons conviction.
He was transported for a First Appearance Court hearing and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Irby-Johnson pending trial, arguing his release would pose a real and present threat to the safety of the community.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition following a detention hearing and Irby-Johnson was ordered detained pending trial.
McConnell said Irby-Johnson had been cited and released by North Chicago police on August 6 for possession of 40 oxycodone pills, a Class 4 felony, with the inherent conditions that he appear in court and not violate any criminal statute.
He is also currently on felony probation for aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon in a 2025 Lake County case with conditions that he possess no firearms.
McConnell said the same investigator was involved in that arrest, in which Irby-Johnson was found with a loaded .40-caliber handgun that had a 3D-printed unserialized frame and a slide that came back reported stolen out of Indiana.
A search of the backpack he was wearing turned up 19 bags of cannabis weighing a total of 146.7 grams, empty bags and $903 in cash, McConnell said.
A friend with him at the time was carrying a firearm equipped with a switch that converted it into a fully automatic weapon, McConnell said.
Irby-Johnson was on juvenile probation at the time of that arrest and had already been ordered not to possess a firearm.
“It is clear this Defendant will continue to possess firearms, commit crimes, and continue to be a threat to the community if he is not detained, as he is unwilling or unable to abide by Court orders such as not posses firearms as a convicted felon who is under 21, under probation, on pretrial release, and not is possession of a currently valid FOID or CCL,” McConnell said.
Irby-Johnson is scheduled to appear in court on October 1 for an arraignment hearing.