Man, 32, arrested with a pressure cooker and an AR-15 rifle after police stopped him near O'Hare International Airport - but his family insists it's just a misunderstanding

Santos Zamora, 32, was arrested after he was pulled over with a pressure cooker and an AR-15 rifle Saturday

Zamora was charged on a felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon count

Police said they found traces of food inside the pressure cooker which helped to dispel concerns that Zamora might have been plotting to use it as a weapon

His family claims he was driving to Chicago from Wisconsin to visit a newborn nephew and go to a gun range with his brother

His bond was set at $5,000 during the hearing and his next court appearance is scheduled for Friday

By Regina F. Graham For Dailymail.com
PUBLISHED: 16:37 BST, 9 October 2017 | UPDATED: 17:15 BST, 9 October 2017


A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged after he was pulled over with a pressure cooker and an AR-15 rifle near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, but his family insists it's all just a misunderstanding.

Santos Zamora appeared in court on Sunday on a felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon charge, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Police stopped Zamora on Cumberland Road near the Kennedy Expressway around 8am on Saturday for driving 20 mph over the speed limit after leaving the airport, prosecutors say.

An officer noticed that Zamora had a black gun case in the front passenger seat during the traffic stop, according to the police report.


Santos Zamora (above in mugshot), 32, appeared in court on Sunday on a felony aggravated unlawful
use of a weapon charge


+3He was arrested and charged after he was pulled over with a pressure cooker and an AR-15 rifle near
the Chicago O'Hare International airport (file above)

The 32-year-old man told the officer that between his feet he had a .45-caliber handgun and an AR-15 rifle in the trunk of the vehicle, according to the police report. Police did not say whether one or both guns found in the vehicle were loaded.

During a search of his 2005 Mitsubishi Galant, officers also found a pressure cooker inside the trunk, court records state.

Police said they found traces of food inside the pressure cooker which helped to dispel concerns that Zamora might have been plotting to use it as a weapon.

Two other people inside the car were detained while the CPD Organized Crime Bureau and Joint Terrorism Task Force were called to conduct an investigation, police said.

Zamora was arrested and also faces several traffic violations for speeding and driving his car without insurance. The incident involving Zamora, who is from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, sparked a counter-terrorism investigation, police say.

Authorities also say he did not have an Illinois Firearm Owners Identification card.

Man, 32, arrested with a pressure cooker and an AR-15 rifle after ...