Road rage incident involving firearms leads to arrest in Hampshire Township

HAMPSHIRE TOWNSHIP — Kane County Sheriff’s Deputies received a regional dispatch on June 14, for a report of a road rage incident involving occupants of a vehicle pointing firearms at other motorists.

Several minutes after the dispatch, a sheriff’s detective observed the suspect vehicle traveling west on I-90, near Tyrell Road. The detective reported that the vehicle was speeding and due to the high-risk possibility of the situation, he waited for assistance from the Illinois State Police before conducting a traffic stop.

The detective was able to stop the vehicle on I-90, near U.S. Highway 20, where he smelled the strong odor of raw cannabis coming from the vehicle while speaking with the occupants.

A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, which allowed police officers to recover a loaded Glock 42 .380 handgun in the glovebox.

A further search of the vehicle yielded a Kel-Tec Pistol, a gun that shoots 5.56 rounds, loaded with armor-piercing ammunition. Also located near the Kel-Tec was a ballistic vest rated to stop rifle rounds. An additional 50-round drum magazine was located in the vehicle.

Detectives arrested and charged Steven J. Baxter, 37, of the Virgin Islands town of St. Thomas, with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class X felony, and two counts of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, a Class 3 felony.

Additionally, detectives also arrested and charged the other vehicle occupant, Shamekwa N. Starnes, 29, of the 800 block of Easton Parkway in Rockford, with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in a vehicle without a permit to carry, a Class 4 felony.

Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain established the unit that made this arrest in 2019 in response to the frequent trafficking of firearms and narcotics in and through Kane County.

This unit has seized over 24 firearms involved in criminal activity in the last year.

“Fully supporting proactive law enforcement in detecting illegal firearms along with training our public in active shooter situations and knowing warning signs of individuals who may commit acts of violence, while providing continuous mental health support through our social worker program has proven to be an effective way to prevent violence in our community,” said Hain.