Luigi Maggione, who is accused of murdering its chief executive, Brian Thomson, allegedly killed him with a ghost gun, a type of gun that can still be made at home, police said on Monday 9/12.
almost a week after the president of the American health insurance giant was killed in New York.
“The information we’re getting from Altoona is that it appears to be a phantom gun, possibly 3D-printed, capable of firing a 9mm round,” said NYPD Chief Joseph Kenney. “Obviously, that will come up during our ballistics tests,” he added.
A law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation previously told CBS News that police believe the suspect used a B&T Station SIX handgun. it had a long barrel and a distinctive look, CBS News’ Anna Schechter reported.
What is a ghost gun?
A ghost gun is a firearm that has been assembled by an unlicensed manufacturer according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
It is manufactured without a serial number which makes it difficult to trace. Not all ghost guns are illegal and not all firearms are required to have a serial number. Ghost weapons can be pistols, revolvers, rifles, carbines, machine guns, and more.
From 2016 to 2021, more than 45,000 suspected ghost guns recovered by police from potential crime scenes were reported to ATF
Ghost weapon: Why do some choose it?
Ghost weapons can be made using a 3D printer or assembled from a kit. Guns can be produced for less than $200, although their average price is estimated at $500.
In 2018 CBS News correspondent Carter Evans was able to purchase a kit for a gun similar to a Glock 9mm without an inspection or waiting period. Online kits are available for everything from pistols to AR-15s and AK-47s.
“You can buy a box of gun parts and put them together. I’ve seen videos on YouTube where some people do it in record time, 20, 30 minutes,” Marvin Richardson, ATF deputy director in 2022, has previously stated.
