Cook County sheriff's deputies say a middle-of-the-night stop at a Southwest Side gas station ended with two arrests and two loaded guns pulled from hiding spots inside the business. A 19-year-old man and a juvenile were taken into custody after officers, armed with surveillance footage and a railroad worker's tip, allegedly found one firearm tucked behind a gaming machine and another stashed in a trash can at a station in the 5100 block of South Halsted Street.
According to FOX 32 Chicago, the action unfolded around 2:50 a.m. on May 29, after Norfolk Southern Railroad employees reported seeing two males holding guns before climbing into a silver Nissan. Deputies tracked the car to the gas station and, once inside, investigators reviewed store video that they say shows 19‑year‑old Xavier Williams sliding a firearm behind a gaming machine while the younger suspect appears to toss a second gun into a garbage can. Both weapons were later recovered, each reportedly loaded with a drum magazine. Williams was charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a machine gun and ordered held in the Cook County Jail, while the juvenile faces a weapons charge.
How deputies say the bust unfolded
The tip from Norfolk Southern employees gave deputies a make, model, and color to work with. Sheriff’s officials say they soon spotted a silver Nissan at the Halsted station and saw two people matching the reported description walking out of the convenience store. The Cook County Sheriff's Office says investigators then combed through the station's surveillance video, found what they believe were the guns being hidden in plain sight, and recovered both firearms. The office later shared details of the incident with local media and law enforcement partners.
Weapons recovered and what a "switch" means
Authorities told FOX 32 that one of the guns was outfitted with a small conversion device, often called a "switch" or "auto sear," which can transform a semi‑automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon. Both guns were reportedly paired with high‑capacity drum magazines. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has repeatedly warned that these tiny devices are treated under federal law as machine guns in their own right and remain a priority in federal enforcement efforts.
Charges and next steps
As reported by FOX 32 Chicago, Williams was booked on a charge of aggravated unlawful possession of a machine gun and ordered held in Cook County Jail. The juvenile was charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon. Williams was scheduled to appear in court on Monday, June 8, according to the station, and prosecutors are expected to decide whether to pursue any additional counts after reviewing all of the evidence.
Why this matters
Devices that convert handguns into fully automatic weapons and the high‑capacity magazines that often accompany them have surfaced in a growing number of Chicago cases, drawing scrutiny from local and federal officials. That trend has helped fuel a wave of policy moves, lawsuits, and investigations aimed at slowing the flow of rapid‑fire hardware onto city streets. As the Associated Press has reported, city and state leaders have cited these conversion devices while pushing for tougher enforcement and legal crackdowns targeting suppliers and traffickers.
