On Tuesday, July 7, what started as a routine stop at the McDonald’s on Auburn Street turned into a gun scare that ended on a WRTA bus, according to Auburn police. A customer reported that a man had flashed a handgun, and officers say they tracked the suspect to a bus, recovered a loaded revolver and arrested a 20-year-old Worcester man who was later arraigned in Worcester District Court on firearms-related charges.
How Police Say The Bus Stop Unfolded
The Auburn Police Department wrote on Facebook that a 911 caller reported a man had displayed a firearm at the McDonald’s and then boarded a WRTA bus, prompting officers to step in quickly. According to the post, witnesses pointed officers to a black crossbody bag. Police say they searched that bag, found a loaded revolver and had it processed by the department’s Bureau of Criminal Identification. The Facebook post includes photos and a brief narrative of how the response played out from the initial call to the recovery of the weapon.
Who Was Arrested And What He Faces
The department’s public dispatch log lists the arrested man as Christopher Michael Desrosiers, 20, of Worcester. The log records bookings on several counts, including carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license (c.269, §10(n)) and possession of ammunition without an FID card.
The same log documents multiple arrest entries tied to the call and notes a prisoner watch at Saint Vincent’s Hospital before the subject was taken for arraignment in Worcester District Court. Court officials handle the ongoing records and case status from there.
What The Firearms Charges Cover
Under Massachusetts law, carrying or possessing a firearm without the proper license is prohibited and governed by G.L. c.269, §10. Possession of ammunition without a Firearms Identification (FID) card is treated as a separate offense. Statutory language and court guidance spell out how prosecutors bring those charges and what penalties can apply if a defendant is convicted.
WRTA Incidents Remain A Worry For Transit
Reports like this echo earlier WRTA-related scares in the Worcester area, where riders and police have had to sort out in real time whether a reported gun is real, a replica or a hoax. Past local coverage of bus incidents has highlighted how transit operators and responding officers try to balance urgent public-safety concerns with the need to verify what actually happened on board.
Auburn police credited officers and dispatchers for the quick response and reminded residents that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Officials are asking anyone with information about the Tuesday incident to contact the Auburn Police Department. Arraignment details and future court dates are handled through Worcester District Court for those tracking the case.
