Two Joliet Teens Arrested With Fully Automatic Pistol And Semi-Automatic AR Gun Under Surveillance

A pair of 18-year-old Joliet teenagers were both in the Will County Jail following their recent arrest by the Joliet Police Department in connection with a weapons investigation.

Two Joliet teens were arrested under police surveillance and one remains in Will County Jail after officers spotted them with firearms on East Zarley Boulevard. The incident occurred around 5:55 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026.

Bryan Lopez and Joshua Price, both 18 years old, were spotted by three officers doing surveillance in the 0 to 50 block of East Zarley Boulevard. The officers were working an unrelated investigation when they saw a black GMC Sierra circling the area before parking.

Three people exited the vehicle. One of the undercover officers had recognized the driver from a previous aggravated weapons crime.

An officer saw Lopez retrieve a backpack from the truck that was weighed down by a heavy object. Price approached the vehicle and tuck a black pistol into his waistband. The third person walked off through an apartment complex. The officers put their undercover vehicle in front of the Sierra and announced their presence.

Lopez placed his hands in the air as ordered. Price pulled the black handgun from his waist and threw it to the ground before running north. A detective tripped Price and he fell to the ground.

Price resisted commands to stop as he tensed his arms and tried to push himself up. He refused to put his hands behind his back. Prosecutors noted Price tried to resist arrest.

Lopez admitted to Joliet police he had a gun in his backpack. Officers retrieved one black Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 semi-automatic AR pistol from the backpack with an empty black magazine.

A second gun was recovered from teenager Price. It was a black Glock 19 fully automatic pistol with a silver switch and a laser light attachment. An extended magazine contained 23 live 9 mm rounds.

Neither defendant possessed a valid FOID card. Neither defendant had a CCL. Prosecutors pointed out these facts in their petition for Price.

Price, 18, comes from the 400 block of Joliet North Bluff Street apartment units. Court documents show his residence location.

Price was charged with resisting a peace officer. Price faces aggravated unlawful use of a weapon charge. Price also faces unlawful use of weapons charge.

Lopez faces felony weapons charges. He was released from custody after three days in the Will County Jail.

Will County Judge Rolonda Mitchell issued the court documents related to the case.

The prosecution filed a petition to deny pretrial release for Price. This kept him detained under the SAFE-T-Act.

Price remains in the Will County Jail at press time. Lopez has been released.

The investigation involved Joliet Police Department officers conducting surveillance on East Zarley Boulevard.