~ On Jan. 31, 2026, a North Central College student and his co-defendant appeared in First Appearance Court after being charged with possession of a loaded firearm and cannabis on campus. The State's Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres announced that Judge Christine Cody has granted the State's motion to detain the student, Kurtis Cruz, pre-trial.

Cruz, 18 years old from Merrillville, Indiana, was charged with one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in a School, a Class 3 Felony. His co-defendant, Diyonnes King, 18 years old from Elgin, was charged with one count of Delivery of Cannabis on School Grounds (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Delivery of Cannabis (Class 3 Felony). However, King was released with conditions as he is not charged with a detainable offense. As part of his release conditions, King is prohibited from entering North Central College dormitories.

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According to the press release issued by the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office and Naperville Police Department, on Jan. 31 at approximately 1:11 a.m., campus safety officers at North Central College contacted the Naperville Police Department after noticing a strong odor of cannabis and loud music coming from Cruz and King's dorm room. When they made contact with the assigned residents of the room, they allegedly observed a loaded handgun and firearm magazine.

Naperville police officers arrived at the scene shortly after and found a Gen. 5 Glock 29 10mm handgun with a loaded twenty-six round capacity extended magazine in Cruz's black backpack next to a safe under his bed. They also allegedly found approximately thirty-nine bags of cannabis weighing around 136 grams in King's grey backpack on the other side of the room.

State's Attorney Berlin expressed concern over the incident stating that "a college campus is supposed to be a safe place for learning and growth, not a place where students and staff alike have to be concerned for their personal safety." He also thanked the campus safety officers and Naperville Police Department for their quick response and efforts in removing the dangerous weapon from the college. Assistant State's Attorneys Eric Vincent and Daniel Orescanin were also acknowledged for their work in preparing a strong case against Cruz.

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Naperville Chief of Police Arres echoed Berlin's sentiments, stating that "keeping our students, staff, and community safe is our top priority." He also thanked the campus safety officers and police officers for their swift response in recovering the loaded firearm and drugs from the dorm room. Arres also expressed gratitude towards State's Attorney Berlin and his team for their guidance and partnership during this incident.

Cruz's next court appearance is scheduled for March 3, 2026, while King's next court appearance is scheduled for March 2, 2026. Both will appear in front of different judges.

The public is reminded that these are only charges and do not prove the defendants' guilt. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a fair trial where it is the government's burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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