Maryland man wanted after multiple weapons were found, including 3D printed ‘ghost guns’

CNN
—

Authorities in Maryland are searching for a man facing several weapons charges after a colorful cache of firearms, including illegal “ghost guns,” was found at his home.

St. Police responded to reports of a domestic assault at a home in Lexington Park, about 60 miles southeast of Washington, D.C., on Thursday night and discovered an “extensive collection of weapons,” the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.

Ghost guns are kits that the user can purchase online to assemble a fully functional firearm at home using individual parts or parts made with 3D printers and plastic resins. They are often untraceable, and authorities say they are arriving at crime scenes more frequently.

The sheriff’s office said the suspect, identified by police as Jerod Adam Taylor, fled the scene before law enforcement arrived.

Even though Taylor, 39, was legally prohibited from owning a firearm due to prior convictions and had an outstanding arrest warrant for burglary, “clearly” multiple firearms were located at the residence, the statement said.

A subsequent search turned up numerous 3D-printed “ghost guns,” semi-automatic rifles, handguns and shotguns without serial numbers. Police said a total of 80 firearms were seized, including a 3D printed fully automatic rifle.

It was stated that many large capacity magazines, more than 1,300 rounds of ammunition, body armor and 3D printers were among the seized items.

The suspect faces charges of unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful possession of an assault weapon with intent to sell, second-degree assault and other related charges, authorities said.

Ghost gun use is on the rise across the country, with the Biden administration telling the Supreme Court that police departments have experienced an “explosion in ghost gun-related crimes” in recent years. In 2017, police turned over nearly 1,600 ghost guns seized at crime scenes for tracking purposes. Four years later the number rose to over 19,000.

Biden administration tightened regulation It’s about ghost guns as part of a series of actions related to gun safety. In 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives required manufacturers of stealth guns to add serial numbers to kits and conduct background checks on people purchasing them.

But advocacy groups and a few companies that produce the kits He wanted to appeal the decisionIt was claimed in the Supreme Court that the regulation was not permitted by law. They say the kits are parts, not weapons.

Last month, during oral arguments, the Supreme Court signaled its willingness to uphold Biden administration regulation. The decision in Garland v. VanDerStok is expected next summer.