ROGERS PARK — Police officers chased down a 15-year-old boy who had picked up a loaded handgun at the scene of a Rogers Park arrest and ran with it, according to a Chicago Police report of the incident.
The teen who, when cornered, turned and faced police with the .45-caliber weapon still in his hand, threw the gun to the ground after officers chased him in the 6500 block of North Ashland Avenue on Aug. 1, police said.
The arresting officers said the gun, which belonged to an 18-year-old gang member already in custody, was loaded with 10 rounds in the magazine and one bullet in the chamber, ready to fire, according to the report.
The 15-year-old, who was not identified because of his age, along with 18-year-old Tayvion Thomas, were charged with aggravated assault of a police officer with a handgun and unlawful possession of a handgun, police said.
Both suspects are admitted members of the Gangster Disciples street gang, according to police.
The confrontation began when officers on a gang suppression mission spotted a four-door sedan illegally parked in an alley just south of Sullivan High School in Rogers Park with two males standing outside the vehicle.
When officers approached, the two men outside the vehicle fled into an apartment building, leaving the teen and Thomas still in the car.
Thomas, whom an officer recognized from an earlier aggravated battery case, was asked to get out of the vehicle. Thomas attempted to keep his left hand out of sight as he got out of the car and attempted to run as soon as he stepped out, police said.
An officer grabbed Thomas’ shirt and, as they began running together, the nickel-plated handgun fell from his waist and hit the ground, police said. Thomas continued running but was tackled and detained a short distance from the car.
While Thomas was being handcuffed, the teenager stepped out of the vehicle and walked over to where the handgun was laying. According to police, Thomas mouthed something to the teen, who picked up the gun and ran southbound through the alley with an officer chasing him.
A backup unit on its way spotted the teen a block to the east on Bosworth Avenue walking south, while two officers from the original scene closed in on him, according to the report. As the two officers spotted him and shouted, the teen allegedly reached into his waistband and pulled out the gun, turning toward the officers, police said.
But instead of shots being exchanged, the teen threw down the gun and officers rushed in, taking him down and arresting him at the scene, according to the report.
The handgun was not registered but the serial number had not been reported stolen, either, police said.
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