South Cook News

A south suburban woman faces federal gun charges after being nabbed near the scene where looting broke out in the middle of a George Floyd protest march.

Amber L. Peltzer of Lansing was taken into custody shortly after midnight Sunday when police allegedly observed her peering out the entryway of a bar near 16th Street and Michigan Avenue, where the front door had been shattered and she tried to hide, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Eventually, police nabbed her in the driver’s seat of a car, where they also allegedly found a loaded, two-toned Smith & Wesson 9 mm firearm.

Peltzer’s arrest came just days after she boasted on Facebook “I’m officially off parole, DOC (Department of Corrections) can kindly (expletive) they self now.” 

A post from Amber Peltzer's Facebook page dated May 13 | Facebook

Back in October 2014, Peltzer was convicted of aggravated robbery in Will County and sentenced to five years behind bars. She also served time in the Indiana corrections system for theft and receiving stolen property. 

Peltzer's address is listed as 18251 Walter St. in Lansing, according to voter registration information from the Illinois State Board of Elections. Blockshopper records show the home is owned by Celeste and Karl Peltzer, 

Amber Peltzer is one of three ex-convicts arrested on gun charges in recent days after being accused of being near protest scenes with illegal firearms. Brandon Pegues and Kevin Tunstall face similar charges.

On Monday, Matthew Lee Rupert of Galesburg was hit with a slew of charges alleging that he traveled back and forth between Chicago and Minnesota, where Floyd was killed, inciting and taking part in riots along with suggesting attacks on law enforcement during protest demonstrations. Rupert is reported to be the first person hit with federal charges related to the protests. 

Rupert has since been transferred to Minnesota, as federal authorities study social media to determine if extremist groups surreptitiously gained access and standing in protests across the country to cause destruction and tilt gatherings toward violence, the Sun-Times reported.

While investigators have not directly tied Rupert to any organization, the complaint against him is spliced throughout with information about a Facebook account for “El Ricco Rupert” traced back to him, the Sun-Times reported.

In one post, authorities alleged that Rupert posted, “I’m going to Minneapolis tomorrow who coming only goons I’m renting hotel rooms.”

He was taken into custody in downtown Chicago, where a search of his car turned up “several destructive devices” that bore similarities to those he is alleged to have set off in Minneapolis.