Charging documents allege four men dressed in black broke into the indefinitely idled U.S. Steel East Chicago Tin plant on Wednesday.
Two Illinois men are identified, charged and in custody, records show.
Shamar Fulwiley, 32, of Harvey, Illinois, and Johnnie Owens, of Markham, Illinois, are both charged with burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement.
Owens’ bail is $6,500 cash, while Fulwiley’s bail is not yet set. A court date is not scheduled.
A representative from the steelmaker was not immediately available.
On Jan. 8, East Chicago Police responded to the plant, located at 101 129th Street. Two Whiting police officers were also dispatched.
The foreman sent officers to a sublevel near the southwest corner where they found Owens. He ran when cops told him to put his arms up.
A cop used a stun gun when he pulled a gun from his hoodie. He dropped the gun and ran north, tearing “prongs” and “wires” off himself. Multiple officers arrested him.
Two cops went back near the northeast stairwell to look for the gun. Fulwiley — in all black with a black mask — was lying in “mud and grease” to hide from the cops. He was arrested and gave officers a fake name — Mark Lee.
They found a gun on him and later found Owens’ weapon elsewhere.
Fulwiley had active warrants in Springfield, Illinois, Calumet City and another for a parole violation.
Owens was convicted for murder in Cook County in 2000, records show.
The two other men were not apprehended.
