C-11 officers in Dorchester say a late-night ShotSpotter alert on Sunday, May 10, led them straight to an illegal “ghost gun” in the hands of a 16-year-old, after a traffic stop on Dorchester Avenue turned up a loaded pistol on the back floor of a dark, older-model Infiniti. Police report that officers responding to the ShotSpotter activation found several pieces of ballistic evidence near Geneva Avenue and Oakley Street, then later stopped the Infiniti on Dorchester Avenue. On the rear floorboard, they say, officers spotted a handgun loaded with 11 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, with a magazine capable of holding 17 rounds. The weapon was also fitted with a flashlight attachment. The teen was arrested, brought to District C-11 for booking, and now faces multiple firearm-related charges.
According to the Boston Police Department, officers were first sent to the area of 362 Geneva Ave by a ShotSpotter notification, then later pulled over the Infiniti on Dorchester Avenue. Listed charges include carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a large capacity feeding device, and possession of ammunition without an FID card.
What Officers Found
The Facebook post describes the seized weapon as “a Polymer80 9mm pistol with no serial number,” and notes that the magazine could accept 17 rounds even though it was loaded with 11, plus one more in the chamber. The gun was equipped with a flashlight attachment. The juvenile male was arrested at the scene, transported to C-11 for booking, and, because he is 16, police did not release his name.
Why the Polymer80 Detail Matters
Polymer80 frames are a type of privately made firearm often labeled “ghost guns” because they do not carry factory serial numbers and are difficult for investigators to trace. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has clarified that partially finished frames and receivers meet the federal definition of a firearm, which affects how these weapons are tracked and regulated, according to the ATF. Advocates have also flagged a growing number of ghost gun recoveries in recent years, as noted by the Giffords Law Center.
A Pattern in Dorchester
The C-11 arrest comes on the heels of other recent juvenile firearm cases in Dorchester. For example, the Boston Police Department reported on May 7 that officers arrested a 14-year-old and recovered a Polymer80-style 9mm handgun during a separate investigation.
Meanwhile, local outlets reported multiple shootings in Dorchester on May 10, including a double shooting on Geneva Avenue, according to Boston.com.
What the Law Says
Massachusetts law requires anyone who possesses or carries firearms and ammunition to have a License to Carry or a Firearm Identification (FID) card, according to Mass.gov. The state defines large-capacity feeding devices as those that can accept more than ten rounds. Carrying or possessing a firearm without the proper license, and having certain large-capacity devices, can bring criminal penalties under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269 § 10.
District C-11 detectives are continuing the investigation, and police are asking anyone with information to come forward or submit an anonymous tip. Details on how to reach CrimeStoppers are available on the Boston Police Department.
