Uptown: Charges Filed Against Arizona Man Who “Usually Carries A Gun” When He Visits Chicago, Cops Say

Cornelius Williams (inset) was charged with carrying a handgun near this Uptown McDonald’s, police said.

Cops working a “post-shooting mission” after two people were shot in Uptown on April 12 arrested an Arizona truck driver who was allegedly walking down the street with a handgun in a carrying case. But prosecutors refused to charge the man with a felony.

Around 1 p.m. on April 14, officers noticed Cornelius Williams walking in the 1000 block of West Wilson with a Glock handgun travel case in his hand, according to police records.

The cops said they approached Williams in a McDonald’s parking lot to investigate the box and he admitted that it contained a handgun. Alongside the gun inside the box was a magazine loaded with ten rounds of ammunition and a loose bullet, prosecutors said.

Williams, 42, allegedly admitted to police that his Illinois Firearms Owner Identification (FOID) card was revoked due to an order of protection that was issued against him when he lived here.

Despite his revoked FOID status, Williams told police that he “usually carries a gun every time he comes to Chicago,” according to the arresting officers’ report.

Police hoped to secure felony charges against Williams, but the Cook County State’s Attorney refused.

Instead, Williams is charged with misdemeanor unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor possession of ammunition without a valid FOID. He was released on a recognizance bond without seeing a judge.

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CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets. Our editorial email address is news@cwbchicago.com