Crime
HVAC worker found fake guns and bomb materials at Lake Meadows apartment in Chicago
A significant police presence was deployed to an apartment building at 533 East 33rd Place in Chicago’s Lake Meadows neighborhood on Monday morning, following reports of suspicious materials discovered by an HVAC contractor.
Melissa Carraway, an HVAC contractor servicing radiators in the building, stumbled upon a cache of concerning items in one of the units.
Among the items reported were materials resembling explosives, rifles, various forms of identification, chemicals, and insignia associated with the City of Chicago and public safety departments. Carraway recorded a video of the findings before contacting 911.
The unit allegedly belongs to a male tenant described as a Middle Eastern Muslim, though authorities have not confirmed the identity or released further details.
The discovery prompted an immediate response from multiple agencies, including the Chicago Police Department (CPD), Bomb Squad, SWAT, K-9 units, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Residents were evacuated as law enforcement secured and searched the building.
After several hours of investigation, CPD declared the scene “all clear” around 1:30 p.m., determining that the items posed no actual threat. The explosives and rifles were found to be non-functional or fake.
Authorities detained a male resident of the apartment, but he has not been formally charged. Records indicate the individual had a prior history with law enforcement. In 2022, he was fired from the Chicago Fire Department after allegedly threatening a mass shooting at the city’s fire academy. Following that incident, he was taken into custody after a standoff with CPD. Despite this, he was later employed by another city agency, where he remains employed as of today.
In addition to the fake explosives and rifles, investigators discovered identification badges, including City of Chicago and private security credentials, as well as insignias for Chicago police and fire departments. The items’ purpose or significance remains under investigation.
Residents were allowed back into the building after hours of evacuation. The discovery caused unease among tenants, particularly given recent incidents involving explosives nationwide.
Carraway expressed her alarm upon finding the items, stating, “You hear about bombings in places like New Orleans and Las Vegas, and it scared me. I called immediately to make sure this was handled properly.”
Law enforcement agencies are continuing to investigate the incident to determine the suspect’s connection to the materials and assess any potential threat.
Further details about the suspect’s identity and potential charges are expected to be released as the investigation unfolds. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Four individuals have been arrested in connection with a mass shooting on Samurai Lane in Mount Airy that left two teenagers dead and two others wounded during what authorities have described as an attempted robbery.
Surry County Sheriff Steve C. Hiatt announced Friday that investigators worked throughout the night following Thursday’s shooting and ultimately took two juveniles and two adults into custody.
The incident marks the second mass shooting in Mount Airy’s history.
According to the sheriff’s office, all four victims were young males.
Two teenagers, ages 17 and 18, succumbed to their injuries—one was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other died after being transported to a hospital.
The two surviving victims, also ages 17 and 18, were taken to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
One victim is reported to be in stable condition, while the other remains in critical condition.
Authorities said all four suspects have been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.
The two adult suspects are being held without bond at the Surry County Detention Center. The two juveniles are being processed through the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) confirmed that four people were shot during the incident, which occurred at approximately 2:06 p.m. Thursday on Samurai Lane, located off Welcome Baptist Church Road on the east side of Mount Airy.
Deputies and emergency medical personnel responded quickly and provided life-saving measures upon finding the four victims suffering from gunshot wounds, according to the sheriff’s office.
The investigation is being led by the Surry County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from multiple agencies, including the SBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Surry County Emergency Medical Services, the Mount Airy Police Department, and the Bannertown and Four Way volunteer fire departments. The Winston-Salem Police Department also assisted by locating one of the suspects within its jurisdiction.
“This incident is unthinkable,” Sheriff Hiatt said in a statement. “I ask our community to continue to pray for and keep the families of all those involved in your thoughts and prayers, as well as our responders and investigators.”
Samurai Lane and Welcome Baptist Church Road remained closed for several hours Thursday as investigators processed the crime scene.
Sheriff Hiatt expressed gratitude to Welcome Baptist Church for allowing authorities to use its facilities during the response and to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for assistance with traffic control and roadway closures.
The shooting is the deadliest incident in Mount Airy since 2009, when four men were killed in the parking lot of Woods TV store—an event police described at the time as the largest mass killing in the city’s history.
Officials emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing, and additional charges may be filed.
Due to the continuing investigation and the involvement of juveniles, authorities have not released the names of either the suspects or the victims.