CHICAGO (WLS) — The ABC7 I-Team has learned that a man is facing a felony charge for allegedly using a knife during a standoff at a federal building in Chicago.
A standoff at the Dirksen Federal Building downtown ended after roughly nine hours Tuesday night, officials said.
Just before 8 p.m., federal agents were seen rushing toward the man who had been standing in the building’s lobby since about 11 a.m., with a knife.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
The man was on the ground surrounded before being put on a stretcher.
The individual has been identified as Mario Santoyo, age 38, of Chicago. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he is charged with the felony of “possession of a dangerous weapon in a federal facility with intent to use the weapon in the commission of a crime.”
READ MORE | Process of protection behind safe outcome of hours-long standoff at Dirksen Federal Building
According to a news release, Santoyo reportedly entered the building seeking to “speak with the FBI about ‘gangsters’ or ‘gangbangers’ who were allegedly trying to kill him.”
“The defendant created a dangerous situation for himself, law enforcement, and the thousands of federal employees and members of the public inside the Dirksen Building,” U.S. Marshal LaDon A. Reynolds said in a statement. “The standoff in this case was peacefully resolved thanks to the courage and professionalism of the law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI. I am deeply appreciative of this U.S. Attorney’s strong partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service and for his strong leadership in choosing to bring a felony charge to hold the defendant accountable for his intolerable actions.”
Santoyo was hospitalized after the standoff, and he appeared in federal court Friday afternoon.
A judge ordered him to be held in federal custody.
Santoyo will be back in court next Thursday for his detention hearing.
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
