CHICAGO — An hourslong standoff in the city’s Humboldt Park neighborhood ended with a man dead Friday.

Authorities tell WGN News that Chicago police and SWAT responded to a ‘call to service’ in the 4100 block of W. Chicago Ave Friday morning. Arriving officers reported seeing a man on the rooftop of a building with a rifle and flamethrower. An antisemitic sign was visible on the roof as well.

SkyCam9 flew above the scene and witnessed the man standing close to the edge of the building with what appeared to be a propane tank.

Eric McNair, who lives and works in West Humboldt Park, says over the last three months, he has noticed an ever-changing display of flags, mannequins, and most recently, antisemitic signage on the roof of the building.

“For a long time, I’ve seen the structure being built that he sits upon and he has a chair up there,” McNair told WGN News. “Every so often, he changes the flags. You have the American flag upside down. The Ukrainian flag is upside down. Mannequins dressed up as police officers.”

Neighbors say the man in the building is a squatter. They believe he has several weapons, adding that they have heard him shoot a gun off at night. According to neighbors, the man also has a loudspeaker on the roof and uses it to play loud music and spew racially offensive messages.

“They’re worried about the school and the daycare and themselves,” McNair said.

The situation, locals say, recently reached a breaking point.

“The swastika going up, so that is something he has done recently within the past month, put it up, take it down,” McNair said.

A West Humboldt Park Community Coalition member told WGN News that residents have reached out to city and state leaders about the man in question.

“The West Humboldt Park Community coalition wrote letters, sent a certified letter to the governor, wrote a letter, and hand-delivered it to the Mayor’s office,” said the community member who did not wish to be identified.

According to the coalition, the building department was not allowed into the property when they arrived and contacted the police, thus leading to the standoff. Those who live in the area say after months of concern, they are glad to see the response. Locals add that they hope the situation ends peacefully.  

Police and SWAT made their way into the residence and found the man dead. There is no other information at this time.