A man has just been arrested and charged by police for bringing multiple firearms to Trump Tower in Chicago, IL.
The 21-year-old man, Brandon Peck, is from Oakwood, Ohio.
After a hotel employee found guns in Peck’s room at Trump International Hotel & Tower on the Chicago River, he was arrested and charged with two felony counts and cited for unlawful firearm possession.
Take a look:
OHIO MAN CHARGED AFTER BRINGING WEAPONS INTO CHICAGO TRUMP TOWER:
An Ohio man was charged after police discovered weapons in his vehicle and the room of his room in Chicago Trump Tower, reports said Friday.
Brandon Peck, 21, from Oakwood, Ohio, was arrested Tuesday night after… pic.twitter.com/nWH3JOoI1W
— Rob Vendetti (@rob_vendetti) October 12, 2024
Update:
Brandon Peck of Oakwood, Ohio, was arrested last night following a massive police & SWAT response to Trump Tower in Chicago after a gun was found in one of the hotel rooms.
Peck was charged with 2 felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for possessing a… pic.twitter.com/iWzmaHhN6E
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) October 9, 2024
Here’s Peck’s mugshot:
The incident prompted a huge police presence, which Chicago Tribune covered:
Police were first called to the building at about 6:50 p.m., according to a preliminary statement from the department. Around 8:30 p.m., law enforcement and fire department vehicles were lined up outside the tower while officers with bikes told passersby that only residents of the tower were permitted to approach the building.
Around 9 p.m., officers could be seen at the building’s loading dock on lower Wabash Avenue surrounding a man in a red shirt with his hands behind his back. A squad car drove into the loading dock and the gate to the loading dock shut briefly before it reopened and a squad car drove back out.
You can see videos and photos of law enforcement’s response here:
A Significant & Unusual Amount of Law Enforcement Presence at The Trump International Hotel in Downtown Chicago. Special Weapons & Tactics Teams as well as Regular Uniformed Police are spotted.
We have no explanation at this time of what has erupted. Perhaps this was a… pic.twitter.com/yTDzWgZuaz
— Sam Mitha (@MithaLaw) October 9, 2024
🚨🇺🇸#BREAKING | UPDATE MAN ARRESTED AFTER FINDING GUNS IN HIS ROOM AT TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL IN CHICAGO ⚠️
MAJOR SWAT TEAM AND CHICAGO POLICE ON SCENE ALL AROUND THE HOTEL 🚨⭕️ pic.twitter.com/WOO6MXqKn4
— Todd Paron🇺🇸🇬🇷🎧👽 (@tparon) October 9, 2024
CBS News reported that Peck defended himself, saying he was in town for a doctor’s appointment for his parents and brought his guns with him to protect himself in the dangerous city:
Peck’s attorney argued that, since he’s from Ohio, he legally can’t get his guns registered in Illinois.
“He legally owns firearms in the state of Ohio. In the state of Ohio, there is no requirement to have to have to register or have a license for your firearms,” attorney Michael Cheronis said.
Cheronis said Peck was in town for his parents’ medical appointment, and brought the guns to Chicago for protection, out of concern about violent crime in the city.
ADVERTISEMENTAt Peck’s detention hearing, a judge allowed him to go free and return home to Ohio while he awaits trial, but he must appear for all future court dates, and is barred from returning to Trump Tower while his case is pending.
However, it is notable that President Trump is slated to speak in Chicago next week, and usually stays at this very same hotel.
Next week, Trump is expected to be in Chicago—speaking at The Economic Club of Chicago downtown. Trump usually stays at Chicago’s Trump Tower, his property, when he is in the city.
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