Loaded Gun Found On Oak Forest Man During Protest: Affidavit

OAK FOREST, IL — An Oak Forest man has been charged in federal court on allegations he illegally had a gun during a protest in Chicago last weekend. Kevin Tunstall, 29 has been charged with one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to an affidavit signed by Cindy Bernd, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Tunstall was found near State and Harrison in The Loop around 1:30 a.m. on May 30 "as protestors occupied the area" and after Chicago police heard gunshots, the affidavit says. He's accused of having a loaded .40 caliber Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol while not allowed to have a gun due to a prior conviction.

A police report detailing the incident says officers heard gunshots fired from the parking lot at the southeast corner of the intersection and one of them saw someone reloading a gun. The report also states they saw a group of people surrounding a black Jeep and flee the area as more police arrived.

Tunstall was seen entering the back of the Jeep and "leaning forward" with his hands near his waist, according to the affidavit and moments later was removed from the car by a police officer.

At that point, the affidavit states that a "metallic object fell to the ground" and police "heard the sound of a firearm hitting the ground" as no one else was in the Jeep. Two fired cartridge cases and two live cartridges were also found in the area near Tunstall, the affidavit says.

Tunstall's prior felony conviction was for a harassing witness/family member charge from 2016 and was later informed he would not be allowed to have a gun due to that conviction, according to the affidavit.