Investigation into Auburn Street shooting leads to arrest

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Police arrested Austin Olmstead, 18, for having a firearm with defaced serial numbers, among other charges.

On March 29, around 10:30 p.m., officers were called to the 4100 block of Auburn Street for gunfire that was detected by a shot spotter system. Further investigation revealed that a group of people were at a Citgo Gas Station in the 4300 block of Auburn buying drugs, according to court records.

Olmstead was seen leaving a Ford Escape and entering a Chevy Impala with a large item when a fight broke out inside the vehicle, authorities reported.

Olmstead then left the Impala and got back into the Escape, court documents show.

The two cars fled onto Auburn Street, and Olmstead appeared to be shooting at the Impala from the Ford Escape, witnesses told officials.

On April 17, officers pulled over the Escape for having an expired registration. Authorities searched the SUV and found cannabis, a laser sight attachment, a loaded assault rifle magazine and an empty pistol drum magazine.

While in custody, Olmstead told police he went to the gas station to buy cannabis from some friends. He continued to tell them his friends took his firearm and pointed another one back at him, causing a fight to break out.

Officers searched the suspect’s phone and found pictures of him with a pistol with defaced serial numbers.

Austin Olmstead is charged with possession of a firearm without a FOID card, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.