‘There's just no controlling these weapons': 17-year-old with machine gun arrested in Danville
Danville Police said a 17-year-old male was arrested Wednesday afternoon near Martin and Normal Streets. They found the loaded, altered firearm after officers witnessed the suspect acting 'suspicious' while walking illegally in the middle of the street.
UPDATE: Coroner ID's Champaign shooting victim
'You pull the trigger one time and there's just no controlling these weapons after that,' said Danville Deputy Police Chief Terry McCord.
Police said the teenager now faces four charges relating to possession of a machine gun. McCord talked about the string of gun incidents concerning young people over the last few weeks.
'And they noticed the subject was suspicious to them through their training and their experience, and he was walking in the roadway,' he said. 'So, he was breaking the law. So, they got out with him.'
McCord also said they found the 17-year-old with a loaded, modified handgun.
'By Illinois Statute, if they modify it whatsoever and give it the ability to fire more rounds than just one round with one single trigger pull it's identified, the definition is a machine gun,' he said.
Human remains found in wooded Springfield area, Coroner says
This is just the latest of incidents involving teenagers and guns. This situation happened less than two weeks after an 18-year-old was shot and killed at Winter Park in Danville.
'Whether it's gang related, whether it's just kids out there with no guidance or mentorship, I don't have a good answer for you on that, other than we have to have, even more than we already have, community support,' McCord said.
That unnamed 17-year-old now faces four total charges relating to the arrest:
Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon
Possession of a weapon under the age of 21
Unlawful use of a weapon – possession of a machine gun
Obstructing a peace officer
'It's not only our special units, but the patrol officers, the detectives,' McCord said. 'I just can't give enough credit to the proactivity and the positive policing they do in order to get these guns off the street.'
The juvenile remains at the Vermilion County Juvenile Detention Center awaiting a court hearing.
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‘There's just no controlling these weapons': 17-year-old with machine gun arrested in Danville
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — A Vermilion County teenager is now in custody after having a machine gun in their possession earlier this week. Danville Police said a 17-year-old male was arrested Wednesday afternoon near Martin and Normal Streets. They found the loaded, altered firearm after officers witnessed the suspect acting 'suspicious' while walking illegally in the middle of the street. UPDATE: Coroner ID's Champaign shooting victim 'You pull the trigger one time and there's just no controlling these weapons after that,' said Danville Deputy Police Chief Terry McCord. Police said the teenager now faces four charges relating to possession of a machine gun. McCord talked about the string of gun incidents concerning young people over the last few weeks. 'And they noticed the subject was suspicious to them through their training and their experience, and he was walking in the roadway,' he said. 'So, he was breaking the law. So, they got out with him.' McCord also said they found the 17-year-old with a loaded, modified handgun. 'By Illinois Statute, if they modify it whatsoever and give it the ability to fire more rounds than just one round with one single trigger pull it's identified, the definition is a machine gun,' he said. Human remains found in wooded Springfield area, Coroner says This is just the latest of incidents involving teenagers and guns. This situation happened less than two weeks after an 18-year-old was shot and killed at Winter Park in Danville. 'Whether it's gang related, whether it's just kids out there with no guidance or mentorship, I don't have a good answer for you on that, other than we have to have, even more than we already have, community support,' McCord said. That unnamed 17-year-old now faces four total charges relating to the arrest: Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon Possession of a weapon under the age of 21 Unlawful use of a weapon – possession of a machine gun Obstructing a peace officer 'It's not only our special units, but the patrol officers, the detectives,' McCord said. 'I just can't give enough credit to the proactivity and the positive policing they do in order to get these guns off the street.' The juvenile remains at the Vermilion County Juvenile Detention Center awaiting a court hearing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
