AUBURN GRESHAM, CHICAGO — A teenager has been charged with multiple weapon offenses after police say he was caught with a fully automatic handgun in an SUV just blocks from the site of last weekend’s mass shooting outside St. Sabina Church.
18-year-old Jermaine King was arrested early Saturday morning and now faces charges of unlawful possession of a machine gun, two counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, and a misdemeanor cannabis violation.
Police say he was not involved in the actual shooting.
Police Were Clearing Scene When They Made the Arrest
Around 2 a.m. on Saturday, multiple gunmen opened fire outside St. Sabina Church during what was reportedly an after-prom gathering. At least seven males between the ages of 17 and 19 were wounded in the attack. According to police and witnesses, the shooting came from a car driving along 78th Street, with four people inside firing out of all windows.
While dispersing the crowd in the aftermath, officers noticed a group of young men acting “nervously” near 1200 block of West 79th Street, one block from the crime scene.
The group entered a black GMC SUV, but immediately fled on foot when officers approached. Police observed suspected cannabis inside the vehicle and placed it under surveillance.
Arrest and Discovery of Machine Gun
At 3:04 a.m., King returned to the vehicle, unlocked it, and started driving away when he was stopped by police. During a search, police found a backpack on the rear floorboard containing:
- A handgun
- A fully loaded extended magazine
- An auto switch (a modification that allows for automatic fire)
King allegedly admitted the backpack was his prior to the search. According to prosecutors, the weapon had been modified to operate like a machine gun, a federal offense under current laws.
Judge Releases King With Monitoring
Despite the seriousness of the charges, Judge James Murphy III denied prosecutors’ request to detain King pretrial. He was released on electronic monitoring with a daily curfew.
Court records confirm that King has not been charged in connection to the mass shooting itself.
Pastor Praises Police, Offers Reward for Shooters
Fr. Michael Pfleger, the long-time pastor at St. Sabina, spoke emotionally during Sunday mass about what transpired:
“While they were dispersing people, with police cars and blue lights glowing, a car drove down 78th Street. Four people inside were shooting out of all four windows at this massive crowd,” Pfleger said. “Then some people in the crowd began shooting back.”
He called the fact that no one died “a miracle,” and praised police officers for rushing one of the more seriously injured victims to the hospital themselves, possibly saving his life.
Pfleger also announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the shooting.
Were you in the Auburn Gresham area during the St. Sabina incident? Do you feel current policies are doing enough to prevent youth gun violence in Chicago? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments section.
