Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A Buffalo teen is facing multiple weapons charges after being found with 3D printed weapons.
New York State Police's Community Stabilization Unit with Troop A Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team executed search warrants with the help of the Buffalo Police Department, Niagara Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at two locations in the City of Buffalo on Tuesday.
As a result of the search warrants, officials seized several items that are associated with producing illegal weapons.
"What we have are not only a 3D printer, a laptop connected to that, 3D printing filaments, but we have six lower receivers - essentially is the lower half of a pistol - two extended magazines, an upper slide - another item you would need to basically put the two pieces together - and trigger mechanisms. So the only thing missing from making a complete firing weapon would be a barrel, but it had all of the other items ready to go, basically manufactured. That's obviously a huge problem, because they're unserialized," said New York State Trooper James O'Callaghan with WBEN.
O'Callaghan notes the Niagara Falls Police Department was called in to assist with the search warrant because they have a specific case that might overlap with this case.
An 18-year-old was arrested and charged with:
- Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (Class "D" felony);
- Seven counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree (Class "A" misdemeanor).
O'Callaghan says the 18-year-old will be tried as an adult, if this case happens to find its way to court.
"If it carries a 'D' felony weight, and obviously a misdemeanor with a lot of different heavy charges here with Criminal Possession of a Weapon, if convicted, you're looking at possibly five years for something like this," O'Callaghan added.
While it is not clear if the teen produced these elements for himself and the purposes of printing these weapon pieces, O'Callaghan says part of the concern officials are looking into is whether or not they could be sold?
"Either way, when you're 18-years-old and you don't have any possibility of connected to a pistol permit, it's highly illegal," he added. "Chances are most people aren't going to print a multitude of lowers and other components that would create a firearm, and use it for personal recreation, definitely not at that age."
O'Callaghan notes that New York and other states are trying to curb is the ability for anyone to create and manufacture a firearm completely off the books, and possibly use that in some sort of crime. He calls this arrest on Tuesday a big win in that fight.
"I know a lot of people, 18-years-old, but these are young people getting involved in something like this. And not to say we've arrested a lot of different people, a lot of different ages for similar type crimes where they're creating and manufacturing firearms, but our goal here is to eventually make sure this is stopped, and that these weapons capable of serious physical injury or death are not out on the streets where you and your family walk or go out and do things. We're trying to keep the community as safe as possible," O'Callaghan said.