Iowa Man Charged In Hotel Rifle Incident Released, Proposes To GF

CHICAGO —The Iowa man who was arrested over the weekend on accusations he brought a rifle and handgun to his Chicago hotel room was released on bond Wednesday. On his way out of jail, he proposed to his girlfriend.

The scene unfolded in front of television cameras outside the Chicago Police Department's 18th District Headquarters on the Near North Side, as Keegan Casteel, 32, of Ankeny, Iowa, left jail after posting $10,000 bond.

Authorities said he is charged with two felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon after a semi-automatic rifle and handgun were found in his 12th-floor hotel room at the W Chicago - Lakeshore on July 4. Prosecutors said that four magazines also were discovered next to the semi-automatic weapon and a live round of ammunition was in the chamber. Police also said they discovered a high-powered scope.

But two hours after bonding out of jail, and after a clothing change, ABC7 Chicago cameras caught Casteel, who reportedly owns a Des Moines, Iowa auto repair shop, getting down on one knee in the middle of the street, holding out a ring and proposing to his girlfriend.

The woman, standing in front of an SUV, then took the ring and hugged Casteel. At that point, a child called out "mommy" from the backseat. Casteel got into the vehicle without answering any questions from reporters.

According to authorities, the woman, who has not been identified, had been with Casteel and their two children during their weekend trip to Chicago.

A member of the hotel's cleaning staff had alerted authorities about the weapons in the hotel room.

The hotel's location, 644 North Lake Shore Drive, near beaches and Chicago's popular Navy Pier tourist area, led Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown to say the member of the cleaning staff "likely prevented tragedy from happening."

According to ABC7 Chicago, the conditions of Casteel's bond allow him to return to Iowa. Though Casteel had an Iowa gun permit, Cook County Judge David Navarro reportedly told Casteel in bond court that "clearly, we are not in Iowa."