A former Berkeley High School student has been arrested and charged in connection with possession of various illegal firearms and firearm modifications, including an AR-15-style rifle. On May 14, Berkeley High School staff alerted the local police after a video surfaced on social media, depicting a young man, believed to be a former student, with a rifle concealed in his waistband at an intersection close to the school. The Berkeley Police Department's Youth Services unit took up the investigation, leading to an arrest on Tuesday, according to details released on the Berkeley Police Department’s social media post.
Following the arrest of the 20-year-old Berkeley man, officers executed a search warrant at his residence, finding unregistered firearm components and ammunition; among them was an unserialized short-barrel rifle. The search revealed several firearm parts that are illegal and an array of ammo that detectives sourced during the operation. On Wednesday, the suspect was charged by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office with multiple felonies, including illegal possession of a high-capacity magazine and short-barrel rifle, alongside the charge of possessing an unserialized firearm, enhanced by numerous other related charges.
"We are thankful for the diligent work of our Youth Services detectives and the ongoing efforts of the entire bureau to help ensure the safety of our schools and community," stated the Berkeley Police Department in their social media briefing on the case.
