Crime & Safety
Chicago, IL Police Recover Loaded Gun, 100+ Grams of Cannabis on CTA
CHICAGO, IL – A routine patrol aboard a Chicago Transit Authority Red Line train led to the arrest of a 19 year old man after police allegedly discovered a loaded firearm and more than 100 grams of su
By Mason Reid · 2026-10-20T23:43:48.279Z
CHICAGO, IL – A routine patrol aboard a Chicago Transit Authority Red Line train led to the arrest of a 19 year old man after police allegedly discovered a loaded firearm and more than 100 grams of suspected cannabis following a passenger's complaint about smoking.
According to the Chicago Police Department , officers assigned to the Public Transportation Section were riding a CTA Red Line train Thursday, October 15, when a passenger alerted them to someone smoking inside another train car.
When the train stopped, officers exited and observed 19 year old Aurelio DeJesus allegedly smoking inside a separate car.
Police instructed DeJesus to leave the train and step onto the station platform. Once outside, authorities said he began behaving erratically and allegedly attempted to prevent officers from searching him.
During the encounter, officers noticed a bulge near his waistband. Police reported recovering a loaded firearm from his possession.
Following his arrest, officers searched his backpack and recovered more than 100 grams of suspected cannabis, according to the department.
DeJesus was subsequently charged with one felony count of aggravated unlawful possession of a loaded weapon without a valid Firearm Concealed Carry Act license and one felony count involving possession of 100 to 500 grams of cannabis.
The Chicago Police Department highlighted the recovery in a public announcement Tuesday, October 20, emphasizing the work of officers assigned to patrol the city's public transportation system.
The department did not identify the specific Red Line station where the arrest occurred or release additional information about the firearm.
No injuries were reported in the department's announcement.
The incident underscores how a passenger complaint about smoking aboard public transit can lead to a broader police investigation and the discovery of an allegedly illegally possessed firearm.
The charges are allegations, and DeJesus is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.