A man was taken into custody yesterday morning for discharging a "ghost gun" at Lake Herman Park, the Benicia Police Department reported. Officers were called to the scene at around 8:15 a.m. following reports of gunfire. They swiftly pinpointed and detained the suspect, identified as Anthony Hernandez, without any issues, according to the department's Facebook page.
Investigations led police to uncover that the illegal firearm had been tossed in a nearby building and that Hernandez, alongside his group, had been consuming alcohol in the park. Mistakenly discharged, the ghost gun—a weapon lacking a serial number—could have resulted in far graver consequences than what thankfully transpired.
Hernandez now faces multiple charges, including willful discharge of a firearm in a grossly negligent manner, carrying a loaded firearm in public, possessing a firearm without a serial number, and as a minor, illegal possession of a handgun and live ammunition. Also included in the charges is the manufacturing, sale or possession of a large capacity magazine. Benicia Crime Graphics listed the official booking and further details on the case (24-0001).
18-year-old Hernandez, described as a Hispanic male standing at 5'9" and weighing 160 pounds with brown hair and eyes, now awaits legal proceedings in Solano County jail.
