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BY PETER NICKEAS, CASEYTONER AND TOM SCHUBA
Chicago police fought to keep secret details of its probe into a handgun that was taken from a room full of cops and later used in three shootings. In the end, no one was charged and no officers were disciplined.
When a valuable Glock handgun was stolen from inside a South Side police station, the Chicago Police Department did little to investigate, not even interviewing most of the officers who were there.
That was even after the gun had been used in a series of shootings and then was found near a teenage boy who was caught trying to break into a car, according to police records obtained by the Illinois Answers Project and Chicago Sun-Times.
And it also was after a police supervisor told investigators he thought he knew what happened — that another cop had taken it.
Instead, investigators closed the case without figuring out who stole the gun, which had been turned in to the police and was supposed to have been destroyed.
After reporters asked how a gun could have been stolen from a police station full of cops, the department said it was reopening its investigation.
But, even then, investigators didn't interview a single additional officer who was there when the weapon was swiped from the Gresham District station in December 2023.
And the police department fought to keep all of this secret, refusing to release records of the case that reporters sought under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act — doing so only after the publisher of the Illinois Answers Project took the city to court.
In the end, no one was charged or disciplined.
Superintendent's promise
The gun was stolen from a room that tactical team officers were using to inventory about 300 guns collected from a gun buyback event at St. Sabina Church in Auburn Gresham. A cop noticed that one of the guns — a ,45-caliber Glock 21 — had gone missing, its inventory tag switched to another weapon.
Before the Glock was recovered nearly a year later, it had been tied to three shootings since the theft, including one in which a woman was wounded. Police found the gun after chasing a 16-year-old who had been caught pulling on car door handles in November 2024.
The police department's Bureau of Internal Affairs closed the initial investigation even before the gun was found.
When the case was reopened, investigators spoke to the two officers who arrested the boy found with the gun, but they said they remembered little about it.
Investigators tried but failed to interview the boy and attempted to find any social media connections between the teenager and Chicago police officers but came away with nothing. The second inquiry was closed after about five months, again without anyone charged.
The only officer initially disciplined in the case was a sergeant, Robert Brown, who approved the gun inventories. He was handed a one-day suspension. But that disciplinary action was reduced on appeal to a "violation noted" due to his "stellar" 23-year history with the department. Brown won't comment.
For more than a year, the police department has refused to answer questions about its investigations into the theft of the gun, the shootings tied to it or any of the officers named in records related to the case.
One of the cops who was interviewed as a witness in the case was Officer Krystal Rivera, who subsequently was shot and killed last summer by her partner, Carlos Baker, as they chased a suspect into an apartment building in what the police have said was an accidental shooting. Records show Rivera took steps to try to find the gun the day it was stolen. She wasn't accused of any wrongdoing.
Asked a year ago about the stolen gun, Police Supt. Larry Snelling downplayed the theft, saying: "When you look at the number of guns that have been turned in, this is one case that is under investigation at this point. Once we get to the bottom of the investigation, if there's anything nefarious that we find, we'll take action."
Who's in charge?
The police also haven't charged anyone in the shootings tied to the stolen gun.
In August 2024, a woman delivering food with her boyfriend was shot as they were parked near her Auburn Gresham home.
The following month, a 44-year-old woman and her 26-year-old son were fired upon as they saw a car burglary outside their South Shore apartment.
In October of that year, a woman's car was stolen in Auburn Gresham, and eight days later she found it abandoned, damaged with gunshots, with shell casings inside that matched the stolen gun.
By the time officers recovered the Glock in November 2024, the initial investigation into its theft had been closed without internal affairs having interviewed anyone besides Brown. He told them he wasn't even in charge, but internal affairs disputed that.
Then-Cmdr. Michael Tate, who was responsible for running the Gresham District and appointing its tactical officers, wasn't interviewed by internal affairs. He since has been promoted to deputy chief of the police department. He declined to comment.
Police reopened the internal investigation four months after the gun had been recovered and after discovering that it had been used in the shootings.
That was a year after Brown reported that he thought someone from the Gresham District's 663 tactical team stole the gun.
"Why do you say the 663 team?" he was asked by Sgt. Hector Marino, the sole internal affairs investigator on the case, records show.
"Because they were in charge of these weapons, and they were responsible for inventorying them. And obviously some of them knew of this weapon as well," Brown said, according to a transcript of the interview.
First investigation
On Dec. 2, 2023, the day the Glock vanished, Brown was working essentially three jobs.
From inside the Gresham District tactical team office, he was working overtime, monitoring radio traffic for a tactical team that was on call for a Gaza war protest downtown.
He also was helping a separate tactical team inventory the hundreds of guns from the church buyback.
Those tasks were on top of his normal assignment, supervising a team that started at 6 p.m.
Records show the 663 team overseeing the bulk of the buyback duties didn't have an assigned supervisor.
"No one in the ... [Gresham] District, no matter what rank they are, gave me any instructions regarding this weapon turn-in," Brown said, according to a transcript of his internal affairs interview. "No supervisor at any time, that's over-ranked me, gave me any instructions on covering the 663 team, being their direct supervisor or approving or being told directly 'approve their inventories.'"
"Yet you approved all 300 inventories," Marino said, referring to the number of guns that had been turned in. "Why would you do that?"
"To help out because I was there. Not assigned. Because I was there," Brown said.
He disputed the account of one of the police officers, Travis Betts, who told investigators that Brown told them to speed up the inventory process.
"I probably [told them] that they need to focus on what they're doing," Brown said, adding that the officers were talking about "irrelevant stuff."
"I don't remember telling them to speed it up because... 300 weapons is not going to be done in two minutes," he said.
Brown said that, when he learned the gun was stolen, he informed two lieutenants who were in the station that day, Don Hoard and Ryan Doherty. Neither was interviewed by investigators.
In a separate interview with investigators, Betts said that other officers were admiring the Glock, a weapon commonly used in street violence, before it was stolen.
"Ah, yeah, it's a nice one," Betts said
The two officers on the gun's paperwork told investigators they didn't know how their names got there and that they hadn't filled out the forms.
Rivera, the officer who was fatally shot by her partner last summer, told Marino she looked in other officers' bookbags once she realized the gun was missing. The police department has called Rivera's shooting unintentional but hasn't answered questions about the case.
While inventorying the guns, Rivera had said she prepared a report listing every gun that was recovered — a report that investigators said they couldn't find.
Brown said the "computer system was messed up" and had trouble printing, possibly resulting in the report not being found.
Asked about a "security gap" that led to someone stealing the gun, Brown said the tactical team door was open because "people were coming in and out when they were going to the bathroom or whatever."
Brown also said a janitor came into the room while the guns were being inventoried and emptied the garbage. But he said he "didn't observe her even show any interest in these weapons."
It's not clear from the case file whether internal affairs investigators ever established that a janitor was working and, if so, who it was.
Second investigation, same result
By the time a memo about the stolen Glock reached then-Internal Affairs Chief Yolanda Talley in September 2024, the gun had been used at least twice and was still out on the streets.
Just after Thanksgiving in 2024, police arrested the teenage boy they said was seen checking car doors in South Shore. The boy ran when officers confronted him and ditched the gun, but officers found it a short time later.
When police checked the gun's serial number, they realized it had been stolen from a neighboring district's police station a year earlier. When they test-fired the gun and compared its shell casings against brass recovered at shooting scenes across the city, they discovered that it was tied to at least three other crimes since being stolen.
Records show top department officials knew for months that the gun had been used in the shootings before they decided to reopen the investigation into its theft.
In late February 2025 and again in late March, Illinois Answers Project and Sun-Times reporters sent questions to the police department about the gun and its disappearance.
Days later, the police reopened the internal investigation. Department officials later said it's "inexcusable" that a gun had gone missing from police custody. Talley, who was chief of internal affairs at the time of the theft and during the initial investigation, had been promoted to first deputy superintendent. She retired last fall and didn't respond to a request for comment.
After reopening the case, internal affairs didn't reinterview anyone questioned in its initial investigation nor did they interview anyone else from the Gresham District.
When Brown's union argued successfully for lesser discipline, it said Marino "did not conduct a thorough investigation" because he didn't interview all the officers or review security camera footage. Marino couldn't be reached for comment.
During the second inquiry, the records show Marino tried to call the mother of the boy who was arrested with the gun. The boy was in custody on unrelated charges.
The records don't show any attempt to contact the family in person.
Reporters had spoken with the boy and his mother at their home.
The boy's mother told Marino she wasn't sure how the boy obtained the gun, and Marino asked her to call back if her son wished to cooperate. It doesn't appear she called back.
Marino called a detective assigned to one of the three cases tied to the shootings and told the detective the gun had been recovered. The detective told Marino his shooting investigation was suspended but called the teenager's mother, who told him he couldn't talk to the boy unless she was there.
The mother asked the detective: "Is this about that gun that was supposed to be in police custody?"
A LENGTHY INVESTIGATION ULTIMATELY GOES NOWHERE
Dec. 2,2023: A ,45-caliber Glock 21 handgun is stolen from a room full of cops at the Gresham District station after being turned in at a buyback event. The Bureau of Internal Affairs subsequently opens an investigation.
Aug. 14,2024: The stolen gun is used in a shooting that leaves Twanda Willingham wounded near her Auburn Gresham home.
Sept. 19,2024: The gun is used in another shooting in South Shore that targeted Andre Williams and his mother, Crystal Reynolds, who weren't struck by the gunfire.
Sept. 26,2024: The investigation into the stolen gun is closed.
Oct. 13,2024: A car stolen from Auburn Gresham is recovered with shell casings inside that matched the stolen gun.
Nov. 30,2024: The gun is recovered during the arrest of a 16-year-old boy in South Shore.
Dec. 11,2024: A sergeant informs internal affairs that the stolen gun had been recovered and was used in the shootings
Feb. 21,2025: Reporters from the Chicago Sun-Times and Illinois Answers Project ask the Chicago Police Department about the gun's theft and the arrest of the teenage boy. March 27,2025: Reporters send the police department a second inquiry about the theft and the arrest.
April 1,2025: The investigation into the gun's theft is reopened.
June 5,2025: Officer Krystal Rivera, who helped inventory the buyback weapons and searched for the stolen Glock, is shot and killed by her partner during a foot chase in Chatham.
Sept. 9,2025: The investigation into the gun's theft is closed for a second time.
Peter Nickeas and Casey Toner are reporters for the Illinois Answers Project. Tom Schuba is a Sun-Times staff reporter.
A LENGTHY INVESTIGATION ULTIMATELY GOES NOWHERE Dec. 2,2023: A ,45-caliber Glock 21 handgun is stolen from a room full of cops at the Gresham District station after being turned in at a buyback event. The Bureau of Internal Affairs subsequently opens an investigation. Aug. 14,2024: The stolen gun is used in a shooting that leaves Twanda Willingham wounded near her Auburn Gresham home. Sept. 19,2024: The gun is used in another shooting in South Shore that targeted Andre Williams and his mother, Crystal Reynolds, who weren't struck by the gunfire. Sept. 26,2024: The investigation into the stolen gun is closed. Oct. 13,2024: A car stolen from Auburn Gresham is recovered with shell casings inside that matched the stolen gun. Nov. 30,2024: The gun is recovered during the arrest of a 16-year-old boy in South Shore. The Sun-Times' Dec. 11,2024: front page on A sergeant April 6,2025. CPD Officer Krystal Rivera informs internal affairs that the stolen gun had been recovered and was used in the shootings. Feb. 21,2025: Reporters from the Chicago Sun-Times and Illinois Answers Project ask the Chicago Police Department about the gun's theft and the arrest of the teenage boy. March 27,2025: Reporters send the police department a second inquiry about the theft and the arrest. April 1,2025: The investigation into the gun's theft is reopened. June 5,2025: Officer Krystal Rivera, who helped inventory the buyback weapons and searched for the stolen Glock, is shot and killed by her partner during a foot chase in Chatham. Sept. 9,2025: The investigation into the gun's theft is closed for a second time.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 26, 2026 Media Contact Information: Cartwheel Emily Paisner (888) 500-2067 emily.paisner@cartwheelcare.org
$1 million grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois will help Cartwheel scale access to care in rural and underserved communities through 2028
CHICAGO — August 26, 2026 — Cartwheel Care, a telehealth mental health provider for K-12 schools, today announced plans to expand access to care for up to 100,000 students across Illinois, supported by a $1 million grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL). The additional funding builds on an existing partnership between Cartwheel and BCBSIL, following a year of strong engagement and clinical outcomes. Cartwheel currently serves 40 Illinois school districts, and the grant will help expand services further into rural and underserved communities across the state through 2028. Mental health needs among Illinois students remain high. According to data from Lurie Children’s Hospital, approximately 50% of Illinois youth (ages 2–17) have experienced worsening mental health symptoms in recent years. At the same time, access to care has not kept pace: more than 80 of Illinois’ 102 counties have no practicing child psychiatrist, and the shortage is most acute in rural areas, where families often wait months for an appointment or travel significant distances for care. Cartwheel’s telehealth model is designed to remove the access barriers rural families face, like long waitlists and the need to travel to see a provider. By partnering with schools, Cartwheel provides licensed, Illinois-based clinicians with no waitlist, accepts all major insurance plans including Medicaid, and reaches kids and families where they already are, without requiring them to find or travel to an outside provider. “Every student experiences mental health challenges differently, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting them,” said Dr. Juliana Chen, chief medical officer at Cartwheel. “Our goal is to meet students and families where they are, with practical support that helps them build skills, strengthen relationships, and feel more confident navigating challenges at school and at home. BCBSIL’s support is what allows us to bring that care to more Illinois communities.” “Supporting the health and well-being of Illinois youth is critical to building stronger communities,” said Brian Snell, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. “The results we’ve seen through our partnership with Cartwheel demonstrate the impact that timely, accessible mental health services can have for students and families. This investment will help bring those services to even more communities across our state.” To date, four Illinois districts have received Cartwheel’s services through this grant: Steger SD 194 in Cook County and Will County, Troy CCSD 30-C in Will County, Mattoon CUSD 2 in Coles County, and Wolf Branch SD #113 in St. Clair County. In the first year of the program, more than 200 students were referred for care and completed more than 1,000 telehealth sessions. Appointments were scheduled in the same week with no waitlist. Sixty-eight percent of students served were covered by Medicaid or uninsured. Overall, 73% of students showed meaningful improvement in anxiety and depression symptoms on standard clinical screeners (GAD-7/PHQ-9). Additional districts where Cartwheel services are launching this fall include Litchfield CUSD #12, Panhandle CUSD #2, Leyden High School District #212, and Regional Office of Education #40. With the support of this grant, Cartwheel expects to expand into another 30 to 50 school districts, bringing access to care to a total of 100,000 students across Illinois. “Before this partnership, getting a student connected to care could take months,” said Jeffrey Peterson, director of student services & records at Troy CCSD 30-C. “Now our counselors can refer a student, know they’ll be seen within days, and are seeing real improvements as a result.” Through the grant, Cartwheel provides individual and family therapy, parent guidance, psychiatric evaluation and medication management, and specialized care programs for challenges like school avoidance, social media use, and intense emotions and behavior challenges. As reported in Illinois Policy, in 2025 about 25% of Illinois students missed at least 10% of the school year and this was more severe among low-income students, with 35.1% in that group chronically absent. Cartwheel’s school avoidance program delivers evidence-based care designed specifically for students struggling with school avoidance. In partnership with Cartwheel, Peoria Public Schools saw a 62% reduction in absences per student, along with decreases in suspensions and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Illinois school districts that want to learn more about this opportunity for the upcoming school year should visit: www.cartwheel.org/illinois. About Cartwheel Cartwheel is the nation’s largest and most trusted telehealth provider for K-12 schools, students, and families. Cartwheel partners with 350 school districts across 15 states to deliver comprehensive mental health services to students, families, and school staff. Founded in 2022 by educators and clinicians, Cartwheel combines evidence-based clinical care with technology to ensure every child has access to high-quality mental health support. Cartwheel accepts all major insurance plans including Medicaid and provides care at no cost to uninsured families. For more information visit: www.cartwheel.org. About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the largest health insurer in Illinois, serving nine million members and operating in all 102 Illinois counties. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Learn more at bcbsil.com and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 24, 2026 Media Contact Information: Mather Institute Cindy Droog, president, Sabo PR (616) 717-8654 cindy@sabo-pr.com
Free online tool by Mather Institute supports local planning, partnership and investments
EVANSTON, Illinois – Chicago has a new tool to help understand where neighborhood conditions support social wellness among older adults – and where thoughtful investment and partnership may expand opportunities. Mather Institute launched a first-of-its-kind free Social Wellness Map, which scores the 77 community areas in Chicago on social wellness – a measure of feeling connected with others and with a community – for adults 55 and better. Previous research shows strong social ties are one of the most important predictors of a happy and long life, and that neighborhoods and communities shape how people interact, support one another and build shared identity. Mather Institute developed the map in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago. Designed as a planning and advocacy resource, the interactive map can help policymakers, community organizations, funders, planners and service providers explore local patterns, identify assets and consider where new investments may have the greatest benefit for older adults. “Social wellness is a crucial, yet often overlooked, part of healthy aging,” said Cate O’Brien, MPH, Ph.D., chief transformation officer at Mather Institute. “Because every community contains diverse histories, people and experiences, the map is intended to inform – not replace – local knowledge. The most useful next step is conversation. When organizations bring this data together with resident voices, they can better understand what is already working and what could be most beneficial to older adults and their communities.” The map is based on a new survey of more than 4,000 Chicago residents age 55 and better, combined with public data on community conditions, including walkability, economic factors and access to gathering places such as libraries, churches and community centers. Factors such as crime, lack of local businesses and poverty can hinder social wellness, but don’t tell the whole story. Users can view a side-by-side comparison of communities to explore how social wellness relates to health, happiness, income and other factors. Key findings include:
“Community leaders often have deep local knowledge, but need data to support the case for programs, funding and partnerships,” said Jennifer L. Smith, Ph.D., vice president of Mather Institute. “The Social Wellness Map offers another lens for understanding older adults’ experiences and for turning local insight into action.” High social wellness scores were not confined to one part of Chicago or to its wealthiest areas, suggesting that other factors such as neighborhood identity, belonging and longstanding social ties are also important to connection. Chatham emerged as a notable example, with a social wellness score of 8.14 out of 10, illustrating social wellness reflects aspects of community life beyond economic and safety indicators alone. Beverly received the highest community connectability score: 100 out of 100. Beverly is notable for its low crime rates, a strong family culture and several longstanding community gathering places. Jefferson Park stood out for having community conditions that support connection such as accessible transit, retail activity and established cultural gathering places. The map is free to use and does not require user registration. It can be explored at: https://www.matherinstitute.com/social-wellness-map/
About Mather and Mather Institute
Based in Evanston, Illinois, Mather is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1941 that is dedicated to a vision of changing the way society views aging. Mather creates Ways to Age Well℠ through programs, places and residences for today’s older adults. These include developing and operating communities that support older adults in pursuing wellness and fulfillment; sparking creativity and connections for older adults in Chicagoland and beyond; and through Mather Institute, conducting research and incubating innovation to help all live and age well.
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