Oak Lawn Woman Brings Loaded Handgun Into Wheaton Courthouse: Police

WHEATON, IL — A 47-year-old Oak Lawn woman faces weapons charges after police said he brought a loaded gun into a DuPage County courthouse last week after a metal detector showed that she had a loaded handgun in her backpack.

Suheir Barham was released from custody after posting 10 percent of the $100,000 bond that was set after she was charged with unlawful use of a weapon in a courthouse and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney.

Prosecutors said Barham entered the courthouse on County Farm Road in Wheaton at 9:01 a.m. on July 27 and placed her backpack on the conveyor belt metal detector and then proceeded through the security checkpoint. Prosecutors said that when Barham’s backpack went through the metal detector, a sheriff’s deputy observed a firearm in the backpack.

Prosecutors also said that a deputy retrieved a loaded Sig Sauer 9mm handgun from Barham's backpack with one bullet in the chamber. She was taken into custody at that time.

“If you attempt to bring a loaded gun, or weapon of any kind, into the DuPage County Courthouse, our deputies will arrest you on the spot and you will quickly find yourself facing serious charges,” DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said.

Barham will appear in court on August 21 for arraignment.