An Iowa man was arrested in Chicago after a semi-automatic rifle and semi-automatic handgun were allegedly found lying in the window sill of his hotel room by a housekeeper who alerted police.
Chicago police found Keegan Casteel, 32, at 5:45 p.m. on July 4 with the two weapons in a W Hotel room overlooking Ohio Street Beach in the 600 block of North Lake Shore Drive, WFLD reported.
Cops found a .308 caliber semi-automatic rifle that was not engraved with a serial number - and had a round in the chamber.
Police also found a high-power scope with laser-sight attachments, five magazines and a .45 caliber handgun, prosecutors said.
Chicago police found Keegan Casteel, 32, with the two weapons in a W Hotel room on July 4. The arrest was announced by David Brown, the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, during a detailed news conference about recent gun violence
Cops said Casteel has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a loaded weapon without a Firearm Owners Identification card, required in the state of Illinois
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot also praised the hotel worker for reporting Casteel's 'arsenal'
The weapons were found in the window sill of Room 1208 on the 12th floor of the hotel after receiving a tip from a housekeeping employee, according to WBBM-TV.
Authorities said that the rifle had been left in 'in a very suspicious position' and that the area was crowded with Independence Day revelers.
The arrest was announced by David Brown, the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, during a detailed news conference about recent gun violence in the Windy City.
'This was unique that we're still within COVID restrictions somewhat and this employee saw something by entering the room to clean it that likely prevented a tragedy from happening,' Brown said.
'So it's significant – and very valuable. A lot of praise for that employee for making us aware so we could act quickly and potentially avoid a tragedy.'
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot also praised the hotel worker for reporting Casteel's 'arsenal,'
