Man Fires Gun In Casino Parking Lot After Leaving Poker Room: Des Plaines PD

DES PLAINES, IL — A Chicago man was charged with a felony after he fired a handgun in the Rivers Casino parking lot last weekend. Michael Palo, 35, of the 5200 block of S. Harper Avenue, is accused of reckless discharged of a firearm.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office approved the felony charge. Palo was released following his arrest, according to the Des Plaines Police Department.

Police responded to the casino on S. Des Plaines River Road at around 3:02 a.m. June 7, after staff heard a suspicious noise on the fourth floor of the parking garage, saying it sounded like a gunshot. Casino security initially found nothing suspicious when reviewing surveillance footage.

When police returned to the property 20 minutes later on an unrelated call, casino security said they had reviewed more surveillance footage and saw Palo discharge a firearm on the fourth floor of the garage. Palo was seen entering a white Toyota Corolla and then exiting the property. The license plate of the vehicle was run through the database, which came back to Palo.

Prior to the discharge, surveillance saw Palo park his Toyota on the fourth floor and then enter the casino's poker room. He then exited the casino and returned to his vehicle at approximately 1:17 a.m. and at 2:52 a.m. moved his vehicle to the southern wall facing southbound and exited. Palo then raised his arm in the air with a firearm in hand and fired one shot, re-entered his Toyota, and fled the parking garage.

Later, Palo returned to the casino and was taken into custody by police. During the subsequent search, police reportedly found a black Glock 9mm handgun concealed in his waistband and he was arrested.