Buyback Program Under Fire After Gun Resurfaces

A surrendered handgun vanished from police custody and ended up in a teen’s hands, fueling outrage over Chicago’s buyback program and police accountability.

Story Snapshot

A Glock 21 turned in during a Chicago gun buyback reappeared in violent crimes, including the shooting of Twanda Willingham.
The gun disappeared from police custody, raising serious questions about law enforcement procedures and internal accountability.
A high-profile lawsuit now accuses the city and unnamed officers of cover-up and negligence.
Experts and gun rights advocates highlight this failure as evidence of deep flaws in buyback initiatives and police oversight.

Buyback Program Failure Exposed Through Chain-of-Custody Breakdown

In December 2023, the Chicago Police Department conducted a gun buyback event at St. Sabina Church with the promise of removing dangerous weapons from the streets. A Glock 21 .45-caliber handgun was surrendered for destruction. However, instead of being safely processed, the firearm vanished soon after its arrival at the Gresham District police station. This breakdown in chain-of-custody procedures exposed critical vulnerabilities within the department’s evidence handling systems and set the stage for a series of violent incidents involving the missing weapon.

The Glock resurfaced in August 2024, when Twanda Willingham was shot in Auburn Gresham. By November that year, law enforcement recovered the weapon from a 16-year-old boy, who later pleaded guilty to unlawful possession. Investigative reports confirmed the gun’s involvement in multiple shootings, intensifying scrutiny over how a buyback firearm could reenter criminal circulation. The city’s inability to provide clear answers regarding the gun’s disappearance, citing ongoing litigation and internal investigations, has fueled speculation about internal theft and a cover-up within police ranks.

Lawsuit Sheds Light on Police Accountability and Public Safety Concerns

In July 2025, Willingham filed a lawsuit against the City of Chicago and unnamed police officers, alleging gross negligence and a deliberate cover-up. The suit references specific officers involved in the buyback and inventory process, including Sgt. Robert Brown and Officer Krystal Rivera, though Rivera was cleared in an unrelated internal investigation. The central allegation is that police failed not only in securing the surrendered weapon but also in providing transparency and accountability after its disappearance. The incident has reignited debate over the effectiveness of gun buyback programs, especially when lapses in police procedures allow surrendered firearms to be used in violent crimes.

Public trust in law enforcement has been shaken, with residents and advocacy groups calling for independent investigations and better oversight. The pending lawsuit in Cook County circuit court represents a significant challenge to Chicago’s police and municipal leadership, who now face heightened scrutiny and potential financial liabilities. The city’s ongoing silence about the details of the gun’s disappearance only deepens community frustration and skepticism toward official narratives.

Systemic Risks of Buyback Programs and Expert Perspectives

Gun rights organizations, including the NRA, have pointed to this case as a cautionary tale about the risks inherent in gun buyback initiatives. They argue that, absent rigorous oversight and secure handling protocols, such programs can inadvertently supply criminals with weapons, undermining their stated goal of improving public safety. Investigative journalists and criminologists concur, noting that buyback programs are only effective if the chain-of-custody is strictly maintained and audited. Previous incidents in Chicago, including a 2012 buyback gun used in a fatal police shooting, reinforce concerns about systemic failures and repeated lapses in evidence management.

Chicago Woman Shot With Gun From Police BuyBack Program https://t.co/0L86IRDvJf via @YouTube

— Dredogin (@DreDogin) August 13, 2025

Calls for reform have grown louder, with experts advocating for comprehensive changes in both police oversight and the administration of buyback programs. Some propose independent audits and transparent destruction protocols, while others question whether buyback programs can ever fully deliver on their promises. The broader implications reach beyond Chicago, influencing national debates on law enforcement accountability, gun control policy, and the preservation of constitutional rights. In the short term, the scandal may discourage public participation in future buybacks, while in the long term, it could trigger policy reforms aimed at restoring trust and safeguarding communities from similar failures.