East St. Louis Police seize more than 150 illegal weapons during sweep
For the last several weeks, a special East St. Louis police detail has been scouring street corners to collect multiple illegal weapons, including corners and areas where multiple shootings have occurred.
Chief Kendall Perry said police have collected 156 illegal weapons to date, including 14 AR-15s and AK-47s, several handguns and lots of ammunition.
“Last year in December we had collected 143. As of today, we are at 156,” Perry said. “We have 98 percent charge rate on our unlawful use of guns charges and have made over 130 gun arrests.”
Perry said 50- and 100-round drums and extended magazines also were seized.
“I am amazed at the amount of illegal guns we’ve taken from the streets. About 90 percent of them come back stolen,” Perry said.
The gun sweep is not over either, said Perry, who added that the detail is changing locations and the time of day it searches.
East St. Louis annually has one of the nation’s highest murder rates. Between 2000 to 2018 there were 453 murders within the 14-mile borders, 83% of which were gunshot related, according to a Belleville News-Democrat investigation published in April of 2019. During the same period, the city saw an average of nearly 100 non-lethal shootings.
Last year, there were 34 murders in the city. There have been 24 so far in 2020.
Those carrying the illegal weapons are getting younger and younger, he said.
“Some are as young as 14-15 years old,” he said. “Our Citizens have to be our eyes and ears. They live in these neighborhoods that make up East St. Louis. We need them to pay attention to their surroundings and, if they see something, we need them to say something.
“We don’t want anyone to wait until something is happening to call us before anything gets started. We need the citizens to let us know.”
Perry said if anyone sees a group congregating in the middle of the street, gathered on any corner, in a park, or hanging out in front of a business, they need to call the police department.
“It’s the little things our citizens can do that will help us make things safe for everyone who lives here or who comes to East St. Louis as a visitor,” he said. “People can call the police department anonymously if they choose, just call.”
There are other steps citizens can take to keep guns out of the hands of those who want to use them to do harm.
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Gun owners must use gun safety locks to secure their weapons, Perry said.
“A lot of guns are stolen in burglaries to vehicles and in home invasions,” he said.
“If you are a gun owner please don’t leave your guns unsecured and in places where young children can get them. Please don’t leave them laying around and please don’t have them in your house without using gun locks.”
Perry said he wants parents to know that officers are available to talk to their children if they know they are carrying guns.
To report illegal gun activity or to point police in the direction where they can get illegal guns off the streets, call 482-6600.
This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
