After a suspect dropped his gun on the floor of a McKinley Park neighborhood takeout restaurant, multiple callers alerted police, who arrested two teens — one with a fully automatic weapon — after a struggle and chase, the Chicago Police Department announced.
The two suspects were looking at the menu of the restaurant at South Western Boulevard and West 35th Street when a bystander outside the restaurant saw the gun on the floor and called 911, the restaurant’s owner said.
Still Browsing the Menu
A Chicago Police Department mug shot depicts Jon Twist, 18, following his arrest on February 23, 2026.Chicago Police officers arrived within two minutes, the owner said: so fast that the gun-wielding suspects were still figuring out what to eat and didn’t notice their arrival.
Police announced two arrests connected to the incident, which took place around 9:20 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026.
Stolen Machine Gun
Jon Twist, 18, and Santino Rico, 19, were arrested on felony counts that included unlawful possession of a machine gun, armor-piercing bullets and high-capacity magazines; possession of assault rifles with shortened barrels, one identified as stolen; no FOID cards; resisting a police officer; and several other charges.
Twist also allegedly had a loaded handgun in his possession that fell to the floor during a struggle, police said. The short-barreled assault rife recovered from his waistband was later discovered to be reported as stolen, police said.
Gun Conversion Device
A Chicago Police Department mug shot depicts Santino Rico, 19, following his arrest on February 23, 2026.During the struggle, Rico allegedly attempted to flee from the restaurant and dropped a short-barreled assault rifle in his possession, police said. He was quickly apprehended and taken into custody.
This dropped rifle was equipped with a laser sight attachment and an illegal conversion device that allowed fully automatic gunfire from the weapon, police said.
“A Shared Responsibility”
“I want to recognize the strong partnership we have with the residents and stakeholders of our district,” said Chicago Police Department 9th District Commander Joseph Mark, who lauded the quick work by officers and cooperation with the community.
“Public safety is a shared responsibility, and the positive community involvement we are seeing — from attending beat meetings to providing critical information and supporting neighborhood initiatives — has played a vital role in our collective success,” Mark said.
Mark also thanked responding officers and others at the 9th District. “Their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to policing the neighborhoods we serve reflect the highest standards of the Chicago Police Department,” he said.
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