Kankakee County Sheriff’s deputies recovered three loaded firearms during an early morning traffic stop on Thursday.
The incident began shortly after midnight near the intersection of East Hickory Street and South Greenwood Avenue.
Deputies pulled over a vehicle in the City of Kankakee for an undisclosed traffic violation.
During a search of the car, officers discovered three separate handguns.
Each weapon contained a loaded magazine with a round already chambered.
Authorities took three male juveniles into custody at the scene.
All three suspects are residents of Kankakee.
An adult female and a juvenile female were also in the vehicle at the time of the stop.
Deputies released both females at the scene without any charges.
The names of the three male suspects are being withheld due to their ages.
Police transported the minors to the River Valley Detention Center in Joliet.
They are currently being held while they wait for their initial court appearance.
Sheriff Mike Downey praised his deputies for their proactive work in the field.
He stated that removing loaded guns from the street is critical to preventing local violence.
The Sheriff also called for parents and guardians to be more involved in keeping neighborhoods safe.
All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Recent History
Kankakee has seen a rise in proactive traffic enforcement to combat illegal firearm possession.
The intersection of East Hickory Street and South Greenwood Avenue sits in a residential area where police have increased patrols.
In recent months, the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office has prioritized “proactive enforcement” to seize weapons before they are used in crimes.
This arrest follows a trend of juvenile involvement in weapons-related offenses across the region.
Neighboring Joliet and parts of South Chicago have reported similar incidents involving teenagers with chambered firearms.
Local community leaders continue to push for youth programs to deter minors from carrying illegal weapons.
Law enforcement officials believe these stops are a key tool in lowering the city’s violent crime rate.
