Two arrested after security finds backpack with high-powered rifle found at Greektown Casino Hotel
DETROIT MI Feb 23 2020Â An Ohio man is facing charges after a bag containing a high-powered rifle was found behind an ice machine in Greektown Casino Hotel earlier this week.
Marlo Smith, 23, of Cleveland, is charged with one count of carrying a concealed weapon. He’s expected to be arraigned on Friday afternoon.
Around 11:20 a.m. Tuesday, a Greektown security guard found the abandoned backpack near an ice machine in the hotel. The backpack was inspected by Michigan State Police and contained a weapon with one live round in the chamber that was removed.
It is alleged that Smith possessed a concealed weapon that he carried into the hotel.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig said that two suspects were arrested after the bag with the rifle and 30-round magazines were found. In addition to the weapon, police said they found a bible with a list of some U.S. cities.
Chief James Craig said the two suspects were arrested without incident, however, there is another person of interest that they are currently looking for. This person appeared to have dropped the other two suspects off at the hotel late Monday night.
Additional law enforcement authorities, including the FBI, MSP, Homeland Security were called in for assistance. The situation is not being categorized as a terror threat, and may be related to drug trafficking, Craig said, which will be determine with further investigation.
On Tuesday around 7 a.m., a fire alarm was set off in the hotel, which could have been an accident or done on purpose, Craig said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
The hotel was then checked floor-by-floor following the fire alarm incident. That’s when hotel staff found the bag containing the high-powered rifle tucked behind an ice machine.
Police were notified immediately. Craig said that FBI were called to assist because it was unclear whether this was a terror threat or something less.
Surveillance video at the hotel was used to determine who placed the bag behind the ice machine. Craig added that the list of some U.S. cities posted in a bible gave him pause, as some of the cities previously had mass shooting attacks. Detroit was not on the list.
WXYZ
