After a five-day manhunt in New York City, police apprehended a 26-year-old suspect on Monday and charged him with murder.
According to investigators, when asked to provide identification, Mangione, a former valedictorian and software engineer from a prominent family in Baltimore, Maryland, presented the same false ID he had used to check into a New York City hostel in the days leading up to the assassination. A search for Mangione uncovered a scathing manifesto: “These parasites had it coming.”
According to reports, regulation enforcement officials found a “black 3D-printed pistol and a black silencer” in Mangione’s backpack during their investigation. The firearm reported as infamous had a single “loaded Glock journal” containing six 9-millimeter full-metal-jacketed rounds. According to officers, this appears to be the same weapon wielded by the shooter in surveillance footage of the fatal incident.
Detectives and online investigators are meticulously tracing Mangione’s digital trail, including his social media profiles and online accounts, to gain a deeper understanding of his personality and character. For the official inquiry, a crucial aspect will likely involve determining where and how Mangione acquired his firearm.
The alleged use of a “ghost gun,” a firearm often crafted at home without a serialized number like commercially produced weapons, typically renders it more challenging to trace. While this case could also be slightly simpler: as is true for many 3D gun printing enthusiasts online, the firearm found on Mangione shares identical physical characteristics with the Chairgun V1, a design widely recognized among amateur gun enthusiasts. (Vox contacted Chairmanwon for confirmation, but did not receive a response before our publication deadline.)
While this incident marks one of the most notable attempts to manufacture a firearm using a 3D-printed gun, it’s hardly surprising that a “ghost gun” appeared to be involved in the endeavour. In recent years, forensic drones have become increasingly prevalent at crime scenes, posing significant hurdles for investigators seeking to solve complex cases.
The federal government mandates that firearms manufacturers engrave unique serial numbers onto each weapon for tracking and identification purposes. Federal licensed firearms dealers are mandated to conduct background checks on prospective buyers whenever someone attempts to purchase a firearm from them.
Background checks aim to ensure that individuals who are prohibited by law from owning a firearm, including minors and those convicted of felony crimes, are unable to acquire one. During the course of a criminal investigation, serial numbers enable authorities to identify the original purchaser of the weapon, thereby allowing them to determine whether the individual who acquired the firearm was involved in the criminal offence or if someone else used it.
With the proliferation of ghost weapons, individuals are able to circumvent traditional regulations.
As three-dimensional printers have become increasingly accessible, a niche market has emerged among enthusiasts who design, print, and sell firearms components for personal assembly. As a consequence of their lack of serial numbers, ghost weapons prove difficult to trace. By selling these kits online, manufacturers and buyers are circumventing regulations designed for distinct firearm transactions. The proliferation of ghost guns has taken on a peculiar significance, as they provide an attractive option for those who cannot acquire firearms through legal channels, or seek to utilize them for illicit purposes, thereby blurring the lines between criminal activity and societal norms.
Consequently, the proliferation of untraceable and unregulated ghost guns has become a significant concern. Between 2017 and 2021, the submission of privately manufactured firearms to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for tracing purposes experienced a significant increase in variety. Researchers studying gun violence have also highlighted the alarming escalation of youth gun violence during this epidemic.
Ghost gun manufacturers have angered lawmakers in part due to their ability to produce undetectable firearms.
In 2022, the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued new regulations under the Gun Control Act of 1968, fulfilling the Biden administration’s pledge to address the proliferation of ghost guns. The regulatory shift primarily compelled unlicensed ghost gun manufacturers to operate similarly to legal firearms producers and dealers, necessitating them to affix unique identifiers on their products and conduct background checks on prospective customers.
Lawyers representing gun rights groups filed an injunction request with a judge, seeking consideration on whether ghost gun kits and their corresponding frames should be classified as firearms subject to existing gun control regulations. In 2023, a decisive victory was handed down in favor of the gun rights advocates. Despite the Supreme Court issuing a stay, they ultimately heard the case. During oral arguments in October, the justices signaled their intention to clarify the rules governing ghost guns by situating a choice for later consideration within the current term.
Notwithstanding a brief lull, authorities have noted a discernible decrease in the prevalence of ghost guns at crime scenes since the regulations took effect. Following evaluations, the number of ghost weapons seized at crime scenes has significantly decreased since 2022, likely due to the implementation of regulations in cities with access to relevant data. Authorized challenges to the notion that ghost weapons discovered at crime scenes are virtually certain to have played a role.
While mandating small personal gun manufacturers operate more like large corporations has yielded some positive results, this approach will not entirely solve the problem. As long as unregulated individuals can readily produce and fabricate their own three-dimensional weapons, it is only a matter of time before they devise ways to manufacture print guns without serial numbers, resulting in some inevitably turning up at crime scenes? As firearm manufacturers continue to innovate and improve, it’s likely that more advanced technology will enable authorities to detect an increasing number of these weapons. When the police apprehended Mangione, they were fortunate to have a strong suspect in custody – just five days after the crime. He still possessed the weapon at the time of his arrest.
