Aujawan Hymon, a 20-year-old resident of Savannah, Georgia, faces federal indictment for possessing a machinegun, following a shooting at the Oglethorpe Mall in early July. Hymon was reportedly wielding a firearm modified with a machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a 'glock switch,' capable of elevating a standard weapon to an instrument of war, according to federal authorities, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.
Digging into the details of the incident, which involved six suspects, it was discovered that Hymon's firearm was not just kitted out with an extended magazine but also equipped with this device that allowed it to discharge bullets with the rapid-fire capacity of a machinegun, a significant factor in the federal charges, officers were able to recover the machinegun, which is a key piece of evidence in the case against him. Despite Hymon not having a previous criminal record as a felon, United States Attorney Margaret E. Heap was clear in her warning: "We are working with our law enforcement partners to stop the illegal possession of machineguns. Let me be clear- if you possess a glock switch, or any device that converts a firearm into a machinegun, we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office statement.
The rise in gun violence, partly attributed to the availability of such conversion kits, has put the government on high alert, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) taking a steadfast stance on the issue. Acting ASAC Robert Davis of the ATF weighed in on the gravity of the situation, stating, "Machinegun conversion devices are fueling a deadly uptick in gun violence, turning routine firearms into weapons of war." Davis sees the Hymon case as "yet another example of why ATF is committed to aggressively identifying and removing these illegal devices from our communities," as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The collaborative effort between the ATF and the Savannah Police Department underpins this investigation with the U.S. Attorney's Office bringing the prosecutorial weight, led by Special Assistant United States Attorney Makeia R. Jonese and Deputy Criminal Chief Greg Gilluly. As the legal process unfolds, it must be noted that Hymon, along with any indicted defendant, remains innocent until proven guilty, despite the severity of the accusations and the federal government's resolve to combat the illicit possession of machinegun conversion devices.
