Alsip Mom Brandished Gun At Park Looking For Kids Picking On Son: Cops

ALSIP, IL — An Alsip mom is facing several misdemeanors after the Cook County State’s Attorney denied felony charges when the woman was caught waving a gun around at a park, police said.

Kelly Giera, 42, was charged with reckless conduct, endangering the life of a child, unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated assault. No injuries were reported. Alsip police asked the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office to approve a felony charge for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, but that request was denied, police said.

Police departments in the state of Illinois have the authority to charge those accused of crimes with certain misdemeanors without approval of the state's attorney's office.

Just after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Alsip police officers arrived at Apollo Park for a report of a woman waving a gun around, according to police. The woman was no longer on the scene. Officers searched the area and found Giera walking in the 4300 block of Park Lawn, police said.

According to police, Giera admitted she was carrying a loaded 9 mm handgun. She had a valid FOID card, police said, but did not have a concealed carry license permitted her to carry a gun off her property without it being cased.

Giera told police that her minor son was involved in an ongoing dispute with some other juveniles. Her son allegedly called her claiming the kids were outside their home, harassing him. Police said Giera went home, got her gun, and went to confront the kids at the park where she believed they were last seen.

“It is legal to use a firearm when you are facing an immediate threat of death or great bodily harm to yourself or another individual,” Alsip police said in a statement. “It is not legal to proactively seek out individuals with whom you have a dispute while brandishing a firearm. Please call us if you need help legally and safely navigating conflicts.”