C-11 officers in Dorchester claim a late-night ShotSpotter alarm on Sunday, May 10, led them straight to an illegal “ghost gun” in the hands of a 16-year-old, following a traffic stop on Dorchester Avenue that revealed a loaded weapon on the rear floor of a dark, older-model Infiniti. Police say police responding to the ShotSpotter activation discovered several pieces of ballistic evidence between Geneva Avenue and Oakley Street before stopping the Infiniti on Dorchester Avenue. According to reports, officers discovered a revolver on the rear floorboard with 11 bullets in the magazine and one in the chamber, as well as a magazine capable of carrying 17 shots. The weapon was also equipped with a flashlight attachment. The adolescent was detained, sent to District C-11 for booking, and is now facing numerous firearm-related offenses.
According to the Boston Police Department, officers were dispatched to the area of 362 Geneva Ave. following a ShotSpotter alarm, and the Infiniti was later pulled over on Dorchester Avenue. The listed crimes include carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, possessing a large-capacity feeding mechanism, and possessing ammunition without an FID card.
According to the Facebook post, the seized weapon was “a Polymer80 9mm pistol with no serial number,” and the magazine could hold 17 rounds despite being loaded with 11 and one more in the chamber. The cannon was fitted with a flashlight attachment. The juvenile male was apprehended on the scene and sent to C-11 for booking; however, because he is 16, police did not reveal his name.
Polymer80 frames are a form of privately manufactured firearm sometimes referred to as “ghost guns” because they lack manufacturing serial numbers and are difficult for investigators to track down. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has confirmed that partially built frames and receivers fulfill the federal definition of a firearm, which has implications for how these weapons are tracked and regulated. Advocates have also seen an increase in the frequency of ghost gun recovery in recent years, according to the Giffords Law Center.
The C-11 arrest follows other recent youth firearm cases in Dorchester. For example, on May 7, the Boston Police Department said that officers detained a 14-year-old and seized a Polymer80-style 9 mm handgun during a separate investigation.
Meanwhile, Boston.com claimed that there were other shootings in Dorchester on May 10, including a double shooting on Geneva Avenue.
According to Mass.gov, anybody in possession of or carrying firearms and ammunition must have a license to carry or a firearm identification (FID) card. The state defines a large-capacity feeding device as one that can receive more than ten rounds. Carrying a firearm without a valid license, as well as owning certain large-capacity devices, can result in criminal charges under Massachusetts law. General Laws Chapter 269, Section 10.
District C-11 detectives are continuing the investigation, and police are urging anyone with knowledge to come forward or leave an anonymous report. The Boston Police Department website provides information on how to contact CrimeStoppers.
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