Latest news with #BureauofAlcoholTobaccoandFirearms
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
Murdered Newark cop Joseph Azcona was looking for teen who posted eventual murder weapon on Instagram less than hour before shooting
The New Jersey teen who allegedly gunned down a Newark detective and wounded another in a hail of 29 bullets caught their attention less than an hour before — when he flashed the eventual murder weapon live on Instagram, The Post has learned. The 14-year-old tough guy's post meant to intimidate a rival, and set in motion the series of events that eventually led to the shocking March 7 slaying. The teen left home around 5:50 p.m. — 40 minutes before the shootout — to meet friends at the White Castle near Carteret Street and Broadway, according to his aunt, Hadiyah Sorey, who spoke to The Post this week from outside the three-family home she shares with her nephew and his mom, her twin, on North 9th Street. At White Castle, he posted the video of the ghost gun that law enforcement sources said was later used to kill Detective Joseph Azcona. 'He was seen flashing, showing off the gun on Instagram live,' the source said. The weapon was equipped with a conversion device that enabled it to fire multiple rounds with one pull of the trigger, the source said. The teen was firmly on police radar because of multiple arrests, including a robbery and 'other serious crimes,' a law enforcement source said. The local cops were working with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and they were already monitoring his social media when he posted the video. 'They look at the video, identify the location and they respond to the location in an unmarked police vehicle,' the source said. 'They saw him walking with a group of kids,' the source continued. 'They call for backup, which is the other unmarked unit. They all get out of the car, identify themselves as police and the kid turns around and starts shooting right away.' Azcona, 26, never even made it out of his vehicle. The five-year veteran of the force suffered mortal wounds as he sat in the patrol car as other officers traded fire with the teen. 'They didn't know that [Azcona] was hit right away,' the source said. 'The backup officers, they found him . . . and they hightailed it to the hospital.' The dead cop's partner was shot below his vest and had to have part of his liver and intestines removed, the source said. He was released from the hospital on Thursday. The teen was hit in the leg and arm, and is still hospitalized, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. He was charged with first- and second-degree murder. Azcona's partner, who has only been identified as Manny, spoke at Azcona's funeral at Newark's Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart last Friday. The boy's aunt claimed the teen had reason to have a quick trigger finger — her nephew was 'shot at' the day before, which is why he had a gun on him in the first place. Newark police would not comment on the active investigation. She said her nephew told her that the cops were in unmarked cars, wore ski masks and had shotguns drawn. He fired on them because he thought it was the shooter from the day before, she claimed. As he was being arrested her nephew told the officers, 'I didn't know y'all was the police,'' the aunt said. 'He wouldn't have shot at them if he knew they were cops.' A law enforcement source insisted cops clearly identified themselves — and had their shields hanging around their necks and were wearing bulletproof vests that said 'police' on them. The aunt said her nephew might as well be dead. 'Do you really think a 14-year-old wants to kill a cop?' she said. 'He's f–ked his whole life up at 14. He's a good kid. Now his life's over.' The teen is not in a gang, his aunt insisted, instead blaming social media for making kids 'misguided.' His mother, Rabiyah Sorey, 43, refused to comment when approached by The Post at her home, where she sat in a chair outside, hugging herself. The boy's aunt called the whole situation 'horrible.' 'Two families are hurting now,' she said. None more than Azcona's family, which is 'devastated,' a law enforcement source said. 'He was a really good police officer — a good person,' the source said. 'He really, really loved this job.'
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Two Missouri lawmakers looking to dismantle the ATF
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two lawmakers representing Missouri are now leading the charge of dismantling the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. The agency dates back to 1886 but has worked in a standalone capacity since 1972. The ATF has a field office in Kansas City, so that would mean more locally based federal employees laid off. This agency does a lot of work we don't always see, from leading firearm and arson investigations, to background checks, and making sure firearm dealers are in accordance with federal law. KCKPS employee on leave after alleged bank robbery Steve Brackeen owns a local gun shop and he calls the agency's role 'critical'. It was almost two years ago when Brackeen had his gun shop robbed, nearly 50 guns were stolen. 'This was our book keeping. They drove right through the wall, smashed all the furniture and computers into the wall. If the secretary was sitting here, she would have been dead.' The ATF was the agency tasked with solving this crime. 'Shortly after they broke in, the ATF comes in and of course they start collecting evidence. After a short while, they knew everybody involved and arrested them all.' The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office stated: 'As a result of our strong collaboration with the ATF, prosecutors are able to secure convictions in firearms and arson cases that might otherwise remain unsolved.' But two congressmen—Mark Alford and Eric Burlison—are part of a group of GOP lawmakers who want the bureau dissolved. Alford's team said because of his 'packed schedule,' he couldn't speak on camera but sent FOX4 a statement that in part says: 'The ATF is a rogue bureaucracy with one of the worst track records in law enforcement. Time and again it has infringed on Americans' God-given Second Amendment rights, while inappropriately collecting vast amounts of personal information on law abiding citizens. If this agency is not willing to respect the constitution, it should be abolished, and its authorities reallocated to other departments with a record of following the law.' Prosecutors not pursuing criminal charges against former pastor, school board president Bobby Hawk The statement did not provide any evidence supporting those allegations. 'They're the critical part of the gun world. We have to follow their rules and their regulations and keep everything up to date and up to snuff,' Brackeen said. KCPD told FOX4 today they appreciate their relationships with all federal partners, which includes the ATF We reached out to the ATF. A spokesperson said they were given a 90-day period where they are not allowed to do media interviews. That person reached out to headquarters and our request was denied. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
