Worcester police say a quiet house on Pilgrim Avenue was hiding a serious arsenal, complete with what looked like a homegrown gun-making operation.
On Thursday, officers executed a search warrant at the address and uncovered a stockpile of weapons, parts and ammunition, along with equipment that investigators believe was being used to manufacture firearms. One man was taken into custody at the scene.
What officers recovered
According to the Worcester Police Department (Official), detectives walked out of the Pilgrim Avenue address with 16 handguns, seven rifles and two shotguns.
They also cataloged 15 large-capacity magazines, 30 additional magazines, four suppressors, body armor and “hundreds of rounds” of ammunition. A number of items were described as being in various stages of assembly or completion, suggesting that not everything recovered was a ready-to-fire weapon.
The haul did not stop there. Officers say they also seized a 3D printer and tools consistent with firearm manufacturing, which is why investigators are treating this as more than a simple case of illegal possession.
Multiagency probe
As reported by WCVB, the search warrant capped off a lengthy investigation that pulled in multiple agencies.
Worcester police said the department's Crime Gun Unit, Gang Unit and EOP/SWAT team worked the case alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Postal Inspection Service. When that many acronyms show up on your street, it usually means the feds think there is more going on than a few unregistered guns.
Arrest and court date
One man was arrested during the search. Police have not released his name or detailed the specific charges he may face.
According to the Worcester Police Department (Official), the man is expected to be arraigned in Worcester District Court while detectives continue to process what they collected inside the home.
Legal implications
Federal law does not look kindly on backyard gun businesses. Under 18 U.S.C. § 922, it is unlawful to manufacture or deal in firearms without a license, and it is also illegal to possess or transport firearms with obliterated serial numbers. Violations carry potential criminal penalties.
Advocacy and research groups say cases involving privately made firearms and 3D-printed components are popping up more often in trafficking and violent-crime investigations, which can make tracing guns and building prosecutions significantly tougher. That trend is outlined in analysis by Everytown.
A broader concern
Federal data show that recoveries of privately made firearms have climbed in recent years, and the ATF has flagged homemade and 3D-printed parts as a growing piece of its investigative workload.
The agency's National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment highlights rising recoveries of privately made firearms, machine gun conversion devices and 3D-printed components in enforcement cases, which helps explain why the ATF is a regular presence on operations like the one on Pilgrim Avenue.
What happens next
For now, Worcester police say the investigation is still active. Detectives are sorting through the seized weapons, parts and equipment while prosecutors review potential charges.
No additional information was immediately available, WCVB reported.
