Hobart Man Charged After Allegedly Brandishing Modified Automatic Handgun At Scooter Riders
Deacon Jay Samis, 19, of Hobart, is facing felony robbery and weapons charges after Hobart Police say he approached one adult and an 11-year-old riding electric scooters and brandished a modified fully automatic handgun while asking to ride the scooters and how much they cost.
According to court documents, on February 15, 2026, officers were dispatched to the area of 3rd Street and South Colorado Street after a caller reported her grandsons were approached by a male in a blue SUV who displayed what appeared to be a machine gun and asked about their electric scooters.
Investigators reported the victims, one adult and one 11-year-old, were riding electric scooters when the male driver called out to them and began asking questions about the scooters. He asked if he could take a ride on them. When they said no, the male produced a handgun with a large extended magazine and began “waving it around,” asking, “Have you ever seen one of these?”
The victims stated the male then asked, “How much for the scooters?” while still waving the firearm. They told him they cost “about $600,” and the suspect replied, “I don’t know about all of that. I don’t have $600.” At that point, and due to the firearm being displayed, the victims rode away and returned home, where family called 911.
Police reported the suspect vehicle was quickly located and stopped near North Colorado Street and Home Avenue after the victims identified the vehicle and driver as the suspect. Officers identified the driver as Samis.
Officers stated Samis initially denied having firearms in the vehicle but then admitted there was a gun under the passenger seat. Police located a Glock 19 handgun with a large extended magazine and determined it had been modified with a “switch,” converting it to fully automatic fire.
Court documents state the adult victim told investigators he was in fear for his life while Samis was waving the gun. He said Samis did not point the firearm directly at him and did not explicitly demand the scooters, but asked to ride one. The victim stated he believed Samis was going to rob them and felt the conduct was an indirect attempt to force them to abandon the scooters due to fear from the firearm.
Police reported Samis admitted during an interview he purchased the Glock about a week and a half earlier from a friend and knew the attached “switch” made the firearm fully automatic and illegal to possess.
Samis told investigators he approached the scooter riders because he thought they were kids and “wanted to fuck with them,” stating he felt like being an “asshole.” He said he initially believed they were a “father and son,” began asking about the price of the scooters, and told them “let me see,” after which they rode away. He stated they told him the scooters were $200.00. He denied waving the gun at them and said he did not know how they knew he had a handgun with an extended magazine. He also stated the vehicle he was driving belonged to his grandmother.
Lodged in the Lake County Jail.
Charges filed February 17,2026:
• Attempted Armed Robbery (Level 3 Felony)
• Attempted Armed Robbery (Level 3 Felony)
• Possession of a Machine Gun (Level 5 Felony)
