City officials announce takedown of ghost gun ring operating out of New York and Massachusetts

NEW YORK — In opposition to the backdrop of renewed gun violence and an unprecedented NYPD mobilization to guard a number of Manhattan colleges, officers introduced Wednesday the takedown of one other ghost gun ring.

The weird factor in regards to the ring is that one of many alleged members had labored for a significant gun producer.

“Take a look at a few of these weapons. The one right here has a silencer. This one has a silencer as nicely. These prolonged magazines can have a number of photographs at any time,” Mayor Eric Adams mentioned.

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Simply in the future after police ramped up police presence at two Manhattan colleges — an uncommon Degree 2 mobilization — the mayor stood earlier than an enormous desk of weapons as he and Lawyer Basic Letitia James introduced the takedown of a gun and narcotics trafficking ring working between New York and Massachusetts. Most had been ghost weapons.

“One of many best threats to public security is gun violence. Each single day, somebody in New York or on this nation is harmed by gun violence. We witnessed it yesterday with two youngsters outdoors their colleges in broad daylight,” James mentioned.

She was referring to gun violence that unfolded Tuesday on the Higher West Facet and in Harlem and East Harlem. Police say three folks had been shot. A 19-year-old has been arrested and is now being hit with tried homicide and weapons costs. Three others are nonetheless on the run.

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James seemingly alluded to the NYPD’s want to extend police presence across the colleges the place the shootings occurred when she talked about risk to public security posed by the gun sellers.

“These harmful weapons had been being peddled in neighborhoods the place households reside and youngsters play,” James mentioned.

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Officers mentioned one of many ring members, Euclides Castillo, had an uncommon ability, having labored for gun producer Smith & Wesson.

“Whereas not one of the weapons recovered had been made by Smith & Wesson, Mr. Castillo had expertise assembling weapons and understanding methods to repair them, and through at the very least one firearms sale, Mr. Castillo supplied directions about methods to compile and function the weapons that had been bought,” James mentioned.

Additionally on the press convention, there was a disagreement between Adams and Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell. The mayor mentioned he favored a residency requirement for New York Metropolis cops. Earlier the Sewell, who lives in Nassau County, mentioned she did not suppose that was needed.