The Utica Police Department has arrested a 16-year-old male while investigating multiple reports of shots fired in the city, the department said in a May 26 statement.
According to the statement, the Utica Police Department had received multiple shots fired calls on the 1500 blocks of Howard Avenue and Neilson Street in Utica.
The investigation into these incidents was assigned to the GIVE Unit, and through their work, a suspect vehicle in one of the incidents was developed.
At around 7:15 p.m. on May 25, the vehicle in question was located by GIVE investigators and, with the assistance of the Tactical Unit, a motor vehicle stop was conducted.
“As [investigators] were speaking with the occupants of the vehicle, their attention was drawn to a man in the backseat who was making movements toward his jacket,” Utica Police officials said in a statement. “As officers observed him further, they noticed what appeared to be a handgun protruding from the jacket.”
Police say the person was removed from the vehicle and officers secured a loaded 9mm ghost gun with a 27 round extended magazine.
The male, then learned to be 16 years of age, was detained, and transported to the Utica Police Department. Police did not release the name of the individual, due to his age.
The weapon was test fired and the casings were entered into the NIBIN system for further analysis to determine if this weapon was used during the earlier incidents. The investigation into the shots fired incidents is still under investigation.
The unnamed 16-year-old was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of a firearm.
“The Utica Police Department will continue to proactively address these Hot Spot areas, using all personnel and technological means,” Utica Police officials said in a statement. “We will continue to proactively address any incidents of gun violence so that this summer can be enjoyed by every member of our community. “
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Minor arrested for gun possession in Utica
Reporting by Casey Pritchard, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
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