Pritzker scrubs photo posing with career criminal ‘Peacekeeper’ currently charged with murder

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is under fire for posing for a one-on-one picture with a man who’s since been charged with murder.

Kellen McMiller, a 35-year-old Chicago Peacekeeper, posed with Pritzker on Sept. 5, according to local station WFLD:

Six days before a crash-and-grab in Chicago killed 40-year-old Mark Arceta, accused burglar Kellen McMiller posed with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker at a “peacekeeper” event—despite active warrants in four states. McMiller now faces murder, burglary, and theft charges. (CWB) pic.twitter.com/eZ0NztlqMx

— NTC Feed (@NTC_Feed) September 18, 2025

Peacekeepers is a state-funded program wherein certain local residents are designated “peacekeepers” to act as outreach workers and so-called “violence interrupters.”

“It’s folks like these that we need more of doing the hard work of community violence prevention, not troops on the ground to undermine efforts fighting crime,” Pritzker said at the time:

In Englewood today to meet with Peacekeepers who are working to create safer communities.

It’s folks like these that we need more of doing the hard work of community violence prevention, not troops on the ground to undermine efforts fighting crime. pic.twitter.com/WgmSVZWiq7

— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) September 5, 2025

Days later, on Sept. 11, McMiller and a large group of men reportedly rammed a pickup truck into a Louis Vuitton store in downtown Chicago and grabbed almost $700,000 in merchandise.

As the police were arriving shortly thereafter, McMiller and four of the other suspects allegedly fled in a black Kia “in excess of 80 miles an hour, running red lights,” 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins told local station WGN.

The police chase ended with the Kia slamming into a Honda CR-V. The driver of the Honda, 40-year-old Mark Carlo Arceta, was killed while heading to his last day of work at Northwestern University before starting paternity leave. His girlfriend gave birth a day after his death.

Arceta leaves behind a one-year-old daughter and his newborn son.

“We’re having a baby right now. He’s supposed to be with us,” Arceta’s girlfriend, Roanne Masangkay, told WFLD. “They took a very loving father, a really good partner, and very good dad.”

Mark was an admired member of @NorthwesternU CCM staff who we interacted with pretty regularly, and whose family is now yet another victim to the cycle of violence here in Chicago. Please help them out if you are able tohttps://t.co/jbbbONABY2

— Nik Hayes (@nik_hayes) September 13, 2025

It’s now known that McMiller had FOUR standing warrants from multiple states active at the time of his photoshoot with Gov. Pritzker.

A spokesperson for the governor blamed the photoshoot on Pritzker being “asked to take photos” all the time.

“The Governor meets hundreds of people in communities every week and is often asked to take photos,” they said. “We were extremely troubled to learn that this individual was arrested for his alleged involvement in this serious crime, and we expect them to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

“The Governor will keep doing everything in his power to fight crime, keep our neighborhoods safe, and support community violence intervention, which have been proven to work,” they continued.

They neglected to mention that the governor has staunchly opposed efforts by President Donald Trump to deploy federal troops to Chicago to restore law and order. As he said on Sept. 5, he’s more interested in having his supposed Peacekeepers restore peace instead.

In a statement to CWB Chicago, former Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel slammed the governor’s Peacekeepers program.

“Over the years, they have allocated millions of dollars to the peacekeepers program, yet there are no positive outcomes to demonstrate from a data perspective,” he said. “It appears to be another feel-good program, with many participants having prior convictions for violent felonies.”

“The funds spent on the peacekeepers program could be better directed toward police operations, equipment, training, education, and technology. These investments would significantly impact crime reduction, of that I am certain,” he added.

Weitzel: “If Governor Pritzker wants to pose for a picture, it should support victims, not murder suspects.” @CWBChicago @FoxNews

This family is facing an unimaginable loss. Mark was taken too soon, leaving behind a partner and two young children. https://t.co/PtQMLgEYJp

— Chief Thomas Weitzel-Retired (@ChiefWeitzel) September 18, 2025

Weitzel also slammed the governor’s team as “incompetent” for having allowed McMiller to pose with him.

“I know that some people approach politicians and ask to take a picture, but if the photo is posed, it reveals an absolute lack of due diligence on the part of the governor’s team, in my opinion,” he said.

McMillan has been charged with murder, burglary, theft, three counts of being a fugitive from justice with an out-of-state warrant, and one count of issuance of a warrant.

Pritzker, meanwhile, has scrubbed the photo of him and McMiller from the state government’s website.

BREAKING: JB Pritzker caught scrubbing a photo of him and a Chicago “peacekeeper” charged with murder during a robbery last week.

But there’s more: Kellen McMiller was wanted by police in 4 states when he posed with JB.

“Defund the Police!” and hire violent thugs. pic.twitter.com/kM4E04vzHs

— Dapper Detective (@Dapper_Det) September 19, 2025

Senior Staff Writer
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.

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