An early‑morning dorm check at North Central College turned into something far more serious on Saturday, after campus safety officers smelled a strong odor of cannabis and heard loud music coming from a room. When Naperville police were called in and the dust settled, prosecutors say officers had seized a loaded handgun with an extended magazine and dozens of small bags of marijuana. Two 18‑year‑old students now face felony charges; one is being held pretrial, while the other is out under conditions that include a ban from campus dormitories.
Prosecutors Detail What Officers Say They Found
In a Facebook post, the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office said campus safety contacted Naperville police at about 1:11 a.m. Saturday, after reporting the smell of cannabis and loud music from the dorm room. According to that account, responding officers allegedly saw a loaded handgun and a loaded magazine in the room before Naperville police arrived. Prosecutors say the firearm was ultimately recovered from a black backpack near a safe underneath one student's bed, while 39 small bags of cannabis were found inside another student's gray backpack. The office's post outlines those allegations and lists the felony counts now pending against both students.
Charges, Detention and Court Dates
Court records reviewed by the Daily Herald list 18‑year‑old Kurtis I. Cruz of Merrillville as charged with unlawful possession of a weapon in a school, a Class 3 felony. According to that reporting, Judge Christine Cody granted prosecutors' motion to detain Cruz pretrial.
The same records identify 18‑year‑old Diyonnes K. King of Elgin as charged with manufacture/delivery of between 30 and 500 grams of cannabis, as well as delivery of cannabis on school grounds. The reporting notes that King was released pretrial under conditions that bar him from North Central College dormitories. Prosecutors say King's next court date is March 2, while Cruz is scheduled to appear March 3.
Officials Voice Concern
As reported by FOX32 Chicago, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin called the allegations "very alarming" and said a college campus should be "a safe place for learning and growth." Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres similarly emphasized that protecting students and staff is a top priority, and both officials praised campus safety officers for reporting the odor and contacting police when they did. Their comments highlight how campus security and local law enforcement coordinated to secure the dorm room and remove the firearm and drugs.
Legal Note
The DuPage County State's Attorney's Office also stressed in its post that the complaint contains only charges and is not proof of guilt, and that both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Those statements accompany the criminal filings and outline the next steps in the DuPage County court process. Prosecutors say the investigation remains active and that they will continue to pursue evidence as the cases move forward.
Both students are scheduled to appear in DuPage County court in early March. Prosecutors and Naperville police have not provided additional comment beyond their public releases. This report will be updated as new court filings or official statements become available.
