An Aurora woman is in custody after livestreaming herself threatening her employers with a loaded firearm Thursday morning.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury announced Friday that the 23-year-old suspect has been charged two counts of Intimidation (a Class 3 Felony) and two counts each of Misdemeanor Aggravated Assault and Disorderly Conduct.
At approximately 11:56am Thursday, West Chicago police officers responded to a call of an individual with a firearm at Evans and Son Blacktop, located at 3N775 Powis Road in West Chicago. Upon their arrival, officers spoke with the female caller, later identified as one of the victims, outside the business. As officers spoke with the victim, who informed officers that the suspect allegedly had a gun, they could hear yelling inside the building where one of the victims remained with the suspect.
Officers entered the building at which time the suspect allegedly surrendered her firearm, a Glock 43x handgun.
Following an investigation into the matter, it is alleged that the suspect, an employee at the company, entered the building and after a discussion about her not getting paid by the victims, who are the owners of the company, she was asked to leave. It is alleged that instead of leaving, she pulled out the loaded Glock 43x handgun, which does not have a safety switch, pointed it at the two victims, and began livestreaming the incident over Facebook Live. The suspect pointed the weapon at the face of the female victim and threatened to shoot the male victim. The female victim, who is currently pregnant, escaped the building and called authorities.
“Workplace disputes are not uncommon, but brandishing a loaded weapon and threatening your employer, as alleged in this case, is a terrifying act of intimidation and has no place in civilized society,” Berlin said. “Violence is never the answer, and my office will not hesitate to file charges and hold accountable anyone who exhibits the type of behavior alleged in this case.”
