A 16-year-old San Diego Unified student was arrested on May 2 after police say a loaded firearm was found on a school campus, and a later search of his home uncovered equipment used to build weapons. Investigators say the case also links the teen to a recent robbery at a trolley station, putting fresh focus on 3D-printed parts and so-called "ghost" guns in the region.
According to San Diego police, the teen was booked on multiple counts, including carrying a concealed firearm on campus, robbery, illegal gun possession and unlawful manufacture of firearms. Officers from the San Diego Police Department's Ghost Gun Apprehension Team led the investigation, working alongside the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, the District Attorney's Office and San Diego Unified School District police. Those details were reported by NBC 7 San Diego.
Ghost gun crackdown in San Diego
San Diego has had a dedicated Ghost Gun Apprehension Team since 2021, created to track people who manufacture or traffic unserialized firearms. The unit has taken part in multi-agency sweeps that have recovered dozens of ghost guns and 3D-printing tools, as city releases describe an ongoing push to stem online and at-home gun manufacturing. Background on the unit's work is available from the San Diego Police Department, while local coverage from ABC 10News has highlighted large gun seizures and multiple arrests tied to these operations.
How investigators say the teen was connected to other crimes
Police say the Ghost Gun Apprehension Team tied the student to a recent robbery at a trolley station, then used that lead to secure a search warrant for his home. During that search, investigators reported finding a 3D printer, carbon filament, 3D-printed machine-gun conversion devices, four 3D-printed handgun frames, more than 100 rounds of ammunition in different calibers, and a handgun magazine and slide. Those findings were also reported by NBC 7 San Diego.
What the law says
Bringing a loaded firearm onto school grounds can trigger serious penalties under California's Gun-Free School Zone law and related statutes, and carrying a concealed firearm is separately banned in many situations. In recent years, state lawmakers have tightened rules on privately made and 3D-printed firearms, adding serialization and registration requirements that can support manufacturing charges if they are violated. For more details, see California Penal Code 626.9, Penal Code 2540, and guidance from the California Department of Justice.
The case remains under investigation. The San Diego County District Attorney's Office, which assisted with the operation, will review the evidence and decide what charges to file. Community and safety officials say the arrest is another example of why local law enforcement has made ghost-gun enforcement a priority in recent years.
