Chicago transit officers say a routine sweep of a CTA train on Tuesday turned into a weapons bust, with two firearms recovered, including an unserialized "ghost gun." Police say two offenders were detained, and one of them is a convicted felon who was recently released on parole for a prior weapons conviction.
According to a post on X, the department's CPDTransit tactical team recovered the guns during a transit check and detained the pair while the investigation plays out, Chicago Police said.
Why ghost guns matter
Privately made "ghost" guns do not have serial numbers, which makes them notoriously hard for investigators to trace. Federal data show ghost-gun recoveries jumped from fewer than 1,700 in 2017 to roughly 27,000 in 2023, according to WTTW. The outlet noted that the U.S. Supreme Court recently cleared a federal rule that requires serial numbers and background checks for many of the kits used to assemble these weapons.
Prosecutors and penalties
Illinois law bars convicted felons from possessing firearms and allows for multi-year prison terms for violations, according to the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender's weapons digest. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office has said it will seek pre-trial detention and pursue tougher penalties for people caught with ghost guns or other modified weapons, especially when those cases unfold on public transportation, per a Cook County press release.
What riders should expect
Tuesday's seizure is one of several recent transit-focused stops and weapons recoveries as police step up checks on CTA trains and platforms. Surge patrols and transit checks have already produced arrests and gun recoveries on the Red Line and in the Loop, according to CWB Chicago. Riders are being reminded to report suspicious behavior to 911 or CTA authorities and to expect a visible police presence while these efforts continue.
Officials did not immediately release the names of the two offenders or the exact CTA station where the stop occurred. Chicago Police and the Cook County State's Attorney's Office did not provide additional comment beyond what was shared in the department's X post.
