Wrong-Way East El Paso Stop Ends With Ghost Gun Bust
A late Sunday traffic stop in Far East El Paso went from routine to serious when deputies pulled over a wrong-way driver and ended up seizing a suspected "ghost gun," marijuana, two bags of suspected narcotics, and U.S. military-issued gear. El Paso County Sheriff's deputies arrested three people at the scene near N Zaragoza Road and Pellicano Drive, and all were booked into the downtown jail on weapons and drug-related charges while investigators wait for lab results on the suspected narcotics.
Traffic Stop Turned Into a Larger Seizure
According to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, deputies stopped a silver vehicle after seeing it travel the wrong way. What started as a traffic violation quickly expanded into a larger investigation when deputies said they found multiple weapons and suspected drugs in the vehicle, KVIA reports.
Deputies seized a so-called ghost gun, a conventional firearm, marijuana, and two bags of suspected illegal narcotics, along with U.S. military-issued equipment, according to the station. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office described the ghost gun as a pistol-style rifle with no visible serial numbers or other identifying markings.
What a "Ghost Gun" Is and Why It Matters
Privately made or "ghost" firearms do not carry serial numbers, which makes them hard for law enforcement to trace. Federal investigators have flagged that trend as a growing concern in recent years. Analysis by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives indicates suspected privately made firearm recoveries have climbed sharply over the past decade, complicating tracing and trafficking investigations and prompting updated guidance for officers in the field.
For national data and broader context, see the ATF.
Three People Booked, Bonds Listed
KVIA reports the three people taken into custody were 31-year-old Harrison Lee Chambers II, 17-year-old Jurell Stylz Carruthers, and 19-year-old Kason Oshae Cofield. All three had their charges and bond amounts listed in jail records cited by the station.
Chambers was booked on charges of possession of marijuana with a bond of $100 and unlawful carrying of a weapon with a $5,000 bond. Carruthers faced the same two counts, also with bonds of $100 and $5,000. Cofield was booked for possession of marijuana with a $50 bond and unlawful carrying of a weapon with a $2,500 bond. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office told the station the trio could face additional counts depending on what lab testing reveals about the substances seized in the car.
Investigation Ongoing
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office says the investigation is still active and has not released further information about the military-issued equipment or the suspected narcotics while testing continues. Officials are asking anyone who may have information relevant to the case to reach out to the sheriff's office through its usual public information and tip channels.
