WEST CHICAGO, Ill.– A man from West Chicago with multiple felony convictions allegedly pointed a loaded gun at people in a car over the weekend.
Ryan Ratliff, 35, faces charges of unlawful firearm possession by a repeat felony offender, unlawful weapon possession by a felon, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, and two counts of aggravated assault.
The incident occurred around 8:40 p.m. on Saturday, about a mile from West Chicago’s Railroad Days festival, according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Ratliff allegedly jumped in front of a moving car on Arbour Street and pointed a handgun at the passengers, who fled and called police. Officers later arrested Ratliff outside a nearby liquor store. A search of the store revealed a loaded gun with 20 rounds in the magazine, hidden behind bottles on a shelf. The gun was reported stolen from Chicago earlier in June.
The idea of a violent individual like Mr. Ratliff carrying a loaded handgun in public is deeply disturbing. Mr. Ratliff’s right to possess a firearm has been forfeited by law because he is a convicted felon, according to DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin.
Ratliff is still in custody and has another court appearance scheduled for July 28.
Ratliff, if convicted, could face a six- to 30-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to Berlin.
