On January 10th, J.B. Pritzker took time from his Star Wars cosplay work, and signed Illinois House Bill 5471. Immediately effective upon signature, HB 5471, among other things, bans commonly owned, civilian sporting rifles like the AR 15, and standard sized magazines that hold over 10 rounds.   Happy Star Wars Day everyone! And #MayThe4thBeWithYou. pic.twitter.com/HWdmSM9Hyg — JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) May 4, 2022 Illinois House Bill 5471— Of course, these laws surprise no one, because laws like these aren’t new. But what Pritzker said in a statement after signing the bill reveals the ..read more

Joliet, Illinois – A man was shot just before leaving for work on Monday morning by three armed men but was able to defend his life. According to Patch, a resident with a home in the 2700 block of Arches Drive, was just about to get into his car to go to work at around 3:30 a.m. when he was approached by 2 masked men. “Officers were able to determine that the victim had started his vehicle by using his remote start,” Joliet police said in a statement obtained by Patch. “The victim then exited his residence and opened the door of his vehicle to leave for work. When the victim opened the door ..read more

Decatur, Illinois – Law enforcement officials are holding a mother in jail for defending her life against the father of her child. According to Sgt. Chris Copeland with the Decatur Police Department, officers were dispatched to a report of a gunshot victim arriving at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital at around 6:50 p.m. When police arrived, they were told by an unidentified 33-year-old man that he had been shot in the side by a 29-year-old woman outside his home in the 3800 block of East Grand Ave. Investigators contacted the woman who the wounded man said shot him, and she came into a station for qu ..read more

Chicago, Illinois – A concealed carry permit holder was shot and killed Saturday night when he intervened in a robbery. According to Chicago Police Department, at around 7:15 p.m., two masked men approached 43-year-old Derrick Gholston where he was working in his food truck and flashed a pistol. The men demanded his valuables, and Gholston handed them over. Then the men continued from robbing him, to walking into a barber shop and began to rob that business as well. Attempting to intervene in the robbery, Gholston entered the barber shop and engaged in a shootout with the masked men. He and on ..read more

Jordan Cremer. Photo: Peoria Police Department Peoria, Illinois – A man was arrested on Sunday September 1st after police say he fired at officers. The suspect says he didn’t realize the person he thought was a burglar was, in reality, a police officer. According to Peoria Police Department (PPD), officers were dispatched to the 300 block of East Virginia St. for a call from a woman asking for police help. When dispatchers asked what the problem was, the call was abruptly dropped and there was no answer when an attempt was made to call the woman back. Police arrived at around 4:25 a.m. and r ..read more

Peoria County, Illinois – A 68-year-old resident of Rittman called police to report that he had fired at an intruder who broke into his home Wednesday morning and said he thinks he knows who it was. “I just shot an intruder in my house. I need a squad,” the homeowner said, adding that the suspect was his estranged stepson who’d broken into his home before. The victim’s 28-year-old stepson ran from the house and may have been wearing shorts and a dark sweatshirt, but the homeowner said he couldn’t be sure. “He took off. I don’t know where he is now. He went out the back,” he told the 911 opera ..read more

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Chicago, Illinois – 5 teens have been charged in the death of a sixth after he was shot and killed while attempting to steal a car. Lake County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies responded to a call in the 17600 block of West Edwards Rd. at around 1:15 a.m. Tuesday morning. Deputies dispatched to the call came into contact with a 75-year-old homeowner who said 2 suspects had come up to him with one holding a large knife in his hand. The homeowner feared for his life and fired a gun at the two teens, striking the 14-year-old in the head. After searching the scene, police ..read more

A fire fighter working for Merrionette Park was charged with felony reckless discharge of a firearm after shooting his legally concealed pistol during what he claims was self-defense situation. According to Patch, Cook County Judge, John Mahoney, released 30-year-old Jeremy Bruno on $10,000 bail and had the public servant placed in an electronic monitoring device on Sunday. Court records on the case say Bruno was attending a birthday party for a 5-year-old, when 24-year-old Jaime Salinas raced his Dodge Charger past the party of young children, prompting one of the guests to throw a beer can ..read more

A man was shot and killed attempting to steal a BMW near Ida B. Wells Dr. and State St. at around 0430 a.m. Friday. The owner of a 2015 BMW told detectives a Volkswagen rear-ended him. The man first got out to look at the damage, then returned to the car for his cell phone. That’s when the driver of the other vehicle got out and approached him with a gun drawn. The 22-year-old carjacker demanded the keys to the BMW and forced the owner inside. Once inside the car, the owner was able to get a hold of his own gun and shot the would-be carjacker in the head. He was pronounced dead at Northweste ..read more