On Thursday night in Dorchester, a routine traffic stop by the Boston Police Youth Violence Strike Force escalated quickly when officers said they found a loaded handgun and spare ammunition inside a car, putting a 27-year-old Roxbury man in handcuffs.
Officers reported that the vehicle, driven by Justice Tucker of Roxbury, ran a red light while following a Boston EMS ambulance with lights and sirens activated at Warren Street and Deckard Street. Tucker was taken into custody at the scene and issued a Massachusetts Uniform Citation for auto-law violations while he now faces state firearm charges.
According to the Boston Police Department, the stop happened at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday. A records check during the encounter showed an active Roxbury District Court warrant for Tucker on a previous unlawful possession of a firearm case and other firearm-related offenses. Police said the vehicle was towed, and a follow-up search turned up a Taurus G2C 9mm under the driver’s seat. The department reported that the handgun was loaded and that additional ammunition was also recovered from inside the car.
Stop, Search And What Officers Recovered
Per Boston Police Department (Official), officers ultimately found the Taurus G2C inside a backpack that was on the passenger seat. The post notes that the firearm was loaded with eleven rounds, and that a second magazine holding ten rounds was also recovered. Tucker is expected to be arraigned in Roxbury District Court on charges that include carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawful possession of a large capacity feeding device. The department’s post also confirms that he received a Massachusetts Uniform Citation tied to the alleged traffic violations.
Part Of A String Of Recent Recoveries
This case is the latest in a run of gun recoveries by the Youth Violence Strike Force in Dorchester. In March, for example, an arrest by the same unit led to officers seizing a fully automatic-capable Glock and an extended high-capacity magazine, according to Boston Police Department updates. Police say these kinds of proactive patrols routinely begin with traffic or public-safety observations, then sometimes turn into arrests and the seizure of guns and ammunition. Officers describe the stops as part of directed efforts to cut down on youth-related gun violence in Boston neighborhoods.
Legal Context
Under Massachusetts law, carrying a loaded firearm without a license and possessing large-capacity feeding devices are prohibited and carry criminal penalties. As outlined on Mass.gov, a “large capacity feeding device” generally covers magazines that hold more than ten rounds. Unlawful possession of such devices can trigger felony charges under chapters 269 and 140 of the Massachusetts General Laws. The state’s summary of firearm laws provides additional background on the relevant statutes and potential penalties.
Thursday’s stop adds another entry to a growing list of gun cases that start with routine traffic checks and targeted patrols in Dorchester. As Hyde Park traffic-stop gun bust and other coverage have highlighted, these incidents point to a steady focus on pulling illegal firearms off Boston streets. Court records and Tucker’s upcoming arraignment in Roxbury District Court are expected to shed more light on the precise charges and what comes next.
