Teenager arrested in Aurora shooting had illegally modified pistol

AURORA, Colorado – Aurora police say one of the teenagers arrested following a shooting near an Aurora basketball court was in possession of an illegally modified handgun.

This pistol was equipped with an automatic switch.

The Denver Field Division of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau (ATF) said automatic switches could be manufactured using 3D printers and quickly installed on the back of a handgun, allowing a 30-round magazine to be emptied in seconds.

“Their sole purpose is to convert a firearm into a machine gun,” said Cody Toy of the ATF Firearms Technology Criminal Branch in a 2022 interview with Denver7.

This week, Aurora police arrested two teenagers in connection with a shooting that left two boys injured near a basketball court.

Investigators said one of the teenagers, just 15 years old, owned an illegally modified pistol equipped with one of these automatic switches.

Investigators found several cartridge cases at the crime scene, but it is unclear whether the illegal pistol seized from the 15-year-old was used in the shooting.

The City of Aurora said it is taking steps to reduce youth crime during the summer by launching a program called “Summer Vibes,” a series of afternoon events in parks across the city.

Aurora also offers teenagers free access to leisure centres during school holidays.

“We are trying to make sure that teens and youth in Aurora have a safe place to go,” said Lexie Ries of Aurora Parks, Rec & Open Space.

From creating safe spaces to detecting automatic switches, the hope is to keep teens safer this summer.

“That’s exactly our goal. We’re trying to create a safe environment for teenagers and our youth in Aurora,” Ries said.

Police: Teenager arrested in Aurora shooting had illegally modified pistol