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As part of the ongoing effort to address gun violence, Chester police stopped and charged a city man Friday night with carrying an illegal firearm that had been stolen in North Carolina.
Chester police charged Thalil Hill, 18, with receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license and carrying when not permitted to possess a weapon, illegal alterations to a weapon, loitering and prowling at night, evading arrest or detention, possession of a small amount of marijuana, use of drug paraphernalia and scattering rubbish.
According to an information release from interim commissioner Katrina Blackwell:
Shortly after 11 p.m., officers conducted a check of the residential area around the 3000 block of West 12th Street as part of the ongoing effort to address gun violence and illegal firearms in the city.
During the check, multiple individuals fled, prompting officers to give chase.
One officer pursued a subject, later identified as Hill, in his vehicle through the surrounding streets. Hill was eventually apprehended in the rear of the 3000 block of West 11th Street following a brief foot pursuit.
Upon searching the area where Hill had fled, officers discovered a black Glock 17 Gen 4, 9 mm semiautomatic handgun, equipped with a switch on the back plate, which makes the firearm capable of fully automatic fire, Blackwell said.
The weapon was found to be loaded with one round in the chamber and 16 live rounds in the magazine. Further investigation revealed that the firearm had been reported stolen from Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, in December 2019.
In addition to the firearm, Hill was searched incident to his arrest, and a rubber glove containing a green, leafy substance suspected to be marijuana was found on his person. The substance later field tested positive for marijuana.
Hill was transported to Chester police headquarters for processing and housing.
He was arraigned by District Judge Elizabeth S. Gallard, who set bail at 10 percent of $100,000, which Hill was unable to post and so taken to Delaware County prison to await a scheduled April 2 preliminary hearing.
Hill’s actions are under investigation as part of an ongoing effort to address gun violence and illegal firearms in Chester, Blackwell said.
“The Chester Police Department continues to be committed to keeping the community safe through proactive policing and the swift enforcement of the law,” Blackwell said. “This case serves as a reminder that gun violence, especially involving stolen or illegally modified firearms, poses a significant threat to public safety. The Chester Police Department urges anyone with information about illegal firearms or criminal activity in the area to come forward.”
