Rockford man charged with possession of a machine gun while walking on the street

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Police arrested Dajario Blankenship, 19, for allegedly possessing a machine gun among other charges.

On July 2nd, around 1:23 a.m., police responded to the 800 block of Fitch Road for a fireworks complaint. Soon after, citizens told officers four men, one possibly armed, wearing all black with ski masks on were walking on Fitch Road.

Authorities located the suspects walking on South 4th Street toward Mattis Avenue and activated their emergency lights in the 2900 block of South 4th Street.

Officials were speaking with two of the men one being Blankenship. Police said they patted down Blankenship and felt a firearm in his waistband.

Authorities said the recovered firearm had an extended magazine and a switch to turn the gun from semi to fully automatic.

Blankenship is being charged with possessing a firearm without a FOID, possession of a machine gun and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a person without a FOID.

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