Assault Rifle Dealers Charged After Fight With Informant: Police

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Two young men arrested in Bolingbrook on Friday, Jan. 24, in connection with a fight and illegal gun deal have been charged with battery and attempting to sell a weapon illegally, according to Will County Court documents. Police said Marco Suzana, 19, of Joliet and 18-year-old Amir Harrell of Bolingbrook were trying to sell another unnamed man a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle when a fight broke out over the transaction's authenticity, resulting in their arrests by the Joliet Metropolitan Narcotics Squad.

The man attempting to purchase the gun was indeed a police informant, JMNS officer RJ Knezevich said. According to police, the informant worked with the JMNS to set up the gun purchase and alerted them to its time and place. Knezevich did not release the informant's name out of concern for his safety.

"That individual set up the purchase of an AR-22 from those two individuals, mainly Amir," Knezevich said. "[Amir] didn't believe it to be real, a fight ensued ... and we came in and placed everybody under arrest."

Knezevich said that Suzana and Harrell were not on the police's radar prior to Friday; it was the informant who brought their activities to JMNS attention on the same day as the purchase. Knezevich added that sting operations like this one are something the narcotics squad does regularly.

"It's something we do on a daily basis; controlled purchases, undercover purchases, search warrants," Knezevich said.

In addition to the charges of battery and attempting to sell a weapon illegally that both men now face, Suzana has also been charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Knezevich said that he had an illegal handgun in his waistband. All three charges are felonies.

Suzana and Harrell had a court date on Tuesday, Jan. 28. According to records from the Will County Sheriff's Office, their next court appearance will be Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 9 a.m. Both men are currently being held at the Will County Adult Detention Facility with bail set at $10,000.

All charges are merely accusations and all parties are considered innocent until proven guilty.