Man arrested after firearm investigation at Marion hotel

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

MARION, Ill., (KBSI) — An 18-year-old man was arrested Tuesday following an investigation into reported firearm-related incidents at a Marion hotel.

Officers responded around 2:20 p.m. March 31 to the Quality Inn & Suites on West Main Street after a report of a man displaying a handgun in a threatening manner, according to the Marion Police Department.

The report followed a similar incident a day earlier at the same location. Police said surveillance footage identified Keonte Bond as a person of interest.

During the investigation, officers observed Bond exiting a hotel room and appearing to conceal an item in his waistband. When officers attempted to make contact, Bond initially refused to exit the room, prompting police to obtain a search warrant.

The Marion Emergency Response Team was deployed, and after repeated commands were ignored, chemical agents were used. Bond then exited the room and was taken into custody.

A search of the room led to the recovery of a handgun with a defaced serial number, 9mm ammunition and clothing matching surveillance images, police said.

Bond was taken to the Williamson County Jail and cited for possession of a defaced firearm, possession of a firearm without a FOID card, aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting or obstructing an officer.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.