2 Loaded Guns In Bedroom Of Joliet West Freshman: Police

JOLIET — A freshman at Joliet West High School is no longer attending classes because the 15-year-old boy is now lodged at the River Valley Justice Center after Joliet police say detectives found two defaced guns in his bedroom.

Joliet police say the freshman is being charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of defacing identification marks on a gun, unlawful possession of ammunition and disorderly conduct.

Joliet Patch posted an article about this incident on Wednesday morning. Later that night, Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English issued a press release providing the main details surrounding this crime, which prompted a huge Joliet police presence at West as students arrived for school earlier in the day.

On Tuesday night, at 11:40 p.m., the Joliet Police Department learned of a threat pertaining to Joliet West High School posted on Snapchat, according to English.

A photo displaying two handguns was posted in a Snapchat group chat typically used for freshman at Joliet West High School, English indicated.

The Joliet Police detective assigned to Joliet West High School immediately notified school administrators and security. An extra police presence was provided during arrival hours at the high school during Wednesday morning.

"Following an extensive investigation of the incident, the 15-year-old male was identified as the suspect who created the Snapchat post," English said, revealing that the boy is a current student at Joliet West.

Detectives responded to the student’s home in the 400 block of South Desplaines Street, and he was taken into custody without incident. Following a search of the student’s bedroom, detectives recovered two loaded handguns. The serial numbers on the handguns appeared to be defaced.

These handguns were the same guns depicted in the Snapchat post, Joliet police added.