Latest news with #GlockSwitch
Axios
5 days ago
- General
- Axios
Why gun switches are becoming more prevalent in Philly
"The sound of war" — that's how Philly police commissioner Kevin Bethel described the rapid gunfire that shattered a recent Memorial Day celebration in Fairmount Park. The big picture: Police believe one of at least three shooters in last month's deadly attack used a firearm equipped with a switch — an illegal device that's becoming a "major issue" in Philadelphia, deputy commissioner Frank Vanore tells Axios. The devices, which can essentially turn pistols into machine guns, have been used in multiple shootings across the city in the past few years, Vanore says. They're being seized more regularly by law enforcement officials in Philly and across the U.S. The latest: Police now believe that six guns were used in the May 26 mass shooting that killed two people and injured nine others, Vanore told Axios following Tuesday's National Gun Violence Awareness Month event at City Hall. Police initially believed at least three shooters were involved, but new evidence raises questions about the possibility of additional shooters or ones armed with multiple guns, Vanore says. Police do not have much surveillance footage of the shooting, so they're "working through" other pieces of evidence to crack the case, Vanore says. No arrests have been made. By the numbers: Philadelphia police have already recovered at least 57 guns equipped with switches this year, per police data provided to Axios. 294 of more than 11,400 guns recovered in 2023 and 2024 — or about 2.5% — were equipped with some form of illegal conversion device, per the data. Threat level: The converted automatic weapons can fire several rounds in seconds with a single pull of a trigger, Vanore says. Switches are becoming more popular because they're easy to buy off the internet, for as cheap as $25, and can be installed with the help of a YouTube tutorial, Vanore tells Axios. They can also be created with 3-D printers. What they're saying: Switches are now a "status symbol" among criminals, says Greg Lickenbrock, director of investigations at gun violence prevention group Everytown for Gun Safety. "It's an intimidation factor," he tells Axios. "It's very easy for a simple altercation to turn into a shootout." Police are"doing everything we can" to eliminate them, Vanore says, and stop potential skirmishes from escalating into violence. Officers will be redeployed from school areas to places where young people typically gather — including parks and community centers — during summer, historically Philly's most violent season, Vanore says. Last summer, Mayor Cherelle Parker signed a bill that banned people from possessing, producing, buying and transferring gun switches and similar rapid-fire devices in Philly. Zoom out: The use of these gun conversion devices, often marketed under common counterfeit trade names like "Glock Switch," has exploded nationally, ATF spokesperson Ben Benson tells Axios.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- CBS News
ATF officers in Philadelphia say they're seeing more switches to make guns fully automatic: "Keeps me up at night"
Amid the sparsely spaced pops at the Philadelphia Police gun range in the Northeast, the tearing of more than a dozen bullets in the blink of an eye stands out. It's because of a machine gun conversion device, a small piece of plastic also known as a "switch" or "Glock switch." With the switch, which can turn a standard semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic one, Special Agent Neil Zubaty with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rips off 17 rounds from a handgun in under two seconds. "It takes less than 30 seconds to pop that on," Zubaty said. "You don't need any special tools to do it. You can actually just use a pen." The ATF invited CBS News Philadelphia to the range this week for a close-up demonstration of the destructive power the devices can cause. The results were shocking to witness. According to Zubaty, adding the device to a gun can allow it to fire 1,200 bullets in a minute, if one could reload that fast. He tells us that's a higher firing rate than a military M-16. The recoil from the rapid-firing weapon is also tremendous. Zubaty has been a firearms instructor with the ATF for more than 15 years. Even for him, he says, controlling a weapon with a switch can be challenging. And when these fall into the hands of someone less experienced, it can lead to devastating collateral damage. "You can also feel it in your hands, but you can also feel it if you're on the balls of your feet, it knocks you back to your heels. And if you don't have experience doing that, it's even worse," Zubaty said. CBS News Philadelphia "A lot of times the intended victim is not the only victim, just because there are so many rounds coming out once this device is employed it causes a lot of damage," said Eric DeGree, special agent in charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. DeGree said officers are finding these switches more and more in their investigations in Philadelphia. He said agents see them in everything from violent crimes to robberies and gang cases. Finding and stopping the spread of these weapons has become a "top priority" for the ATF, DeGree said. "It's one of the things that keeps me up at night," DeGree said. Recent cases involving switches in Pennsylvania U.S. attorneys on Wednesday charged an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old for boarding a SEPTA bus in December with weapons hidden under their clothing equipped with switches. In January this year, Montgomery County authorities announced the bust of a gun trafficking operation, where they recovered a number of machine gun conversion devices. Then there's the notorious shooting near Rising Sun and Cottman Avenues in March 2024. In that case, several people fired at a group of people getting off a SEPTA bus, injuring eight. In a press conference days later, Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said one of the suspects arrested was found to have a weapon modified with one of the devices. "We recovered a .40-caliber Glock 22 pistol with an extended magazine. It was fully loaded. It also had laser sights on it, and it had what we call a Glock switch," Vanore said on March 11. ATF agents say the devices are easy to install and can be very hard to spot at a glance. They can be made out of metal, but many are now being made relatively cheaply with 3-D printers. They say this can also make them more accessible. "So with a $170 printer, a quarter's worth of material, and 30 seconds, you have a machine gun?" asked CBS News Philadelphia reporter Dan Snyder. "Correct," Zubaty said. Officers crack down, emphasize jail time Agents note that the devices are illegal at the federal level, and they are cracking down on offenders. One way is by highlighting the jail time people face for even possessing a switch. According to DeGree, switches themselves are considered machine guns, and merely possessing the device itself could bring federal charges that could land you in jail for 10 years. If the device is used in a crime, DeGree says offenders are looking at 30 years. DeGree admits keeping these small, mostly unassuming pieces of plastic or metal off the streets is a challenge for the department. But it's something he says the department, and its local partners, are committed to prioritizing. "It's something we work at every day to stem the flow," DeGree said, "so it's not hurting our communities."
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
15-year-old charged with alleged possession of Glock switch in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The Birmingham Police Department announced the arrest of a juvenile who was allegedly in possession of a Glock switch. Officers say the 15-year-old suspect was taken into custody in the 4700 block of 9th Terrace North while they were investigating a suspicious vehicle. The suspect was reportedly in possession of a Glock handgun and a machine gun conversion device referred to as a Glock Switch. The suspect is in custody at the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Drugs, guns, Glock switch found during Louisiana Street drug bust
HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) – Three people are in custody following a drug bust on Louisiana Street on Tuesday where officials say a search turned up drugs, multiple guns ammo and a Glock Switch. According to an affidavit, the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force was conducting surveillance in the 700 block, saw a vehicle pull up and saw four people get out. The driver of the vehicle later allegedly committed a traffic infraction, and a stop was initiated. An investigation led to discovering 17 grams of suspected fentanyl. Deangela Bishop was later charged. A search warrant was later granted where Dalyn Rhodes and Demetres Grey were reportedly inside and didn't come out as directed. Officials state a search of the residence led to a light-colored powder flying through the air, covering the bathroom floor and clogging a bathtub drain. Officials say samples of powder on Rhodes and Gray tested positive for fentanyl. A search led to the discovery of four handguns, an extended magazine, a Glock Switch, six digital scales, corner baggies and blender with powder residue. Bishop has been charged with dealing cocaine or narcotic drug while Rhodes and Grey were charged with dealing cocaine or narcotic drug, possession of a machine gun and obstruction of justice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
Katy: Man arrested for bystander's shooting death outside Fry Road McDonald's, sheriff says
The Brief Antoine Ridge, 24, has been charged with the death of Jorge Arbaiza, 61. Arbaiza was caught in the crossfire as an altercation between two groups escalated to a shooting. Officials say Arbaiza was buying Happy Meals for his grandkids when the shooting happened on Sunday. KATY, TEXAS - A man has been arrested for allegedly killing a bystander during an altercation outside a McDonald's in Katy on Sunday. What we know Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez has announced the arrest of 24-year-old Antoine Ridge. Ridge has been charged with the shooting death of 61-year-old Jorge Arbaiza. What we don't know No other suspects have been identified at this time. The backstory Deputies were called to the shooting in the area of Fry Road and W Little York shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Investigators say two groups of possible teenagers were involved in a disturbance that led to shots being fired by multiple people. One person involved in the incident and a bystander were hit by gunfire. The sheriff's office says the bystander, Arbaiza, was transported to the hospital by Life Flight and later died from his injuries. The other male was also taken to the hospital and is expected to survive his injuries. RELATED: Katy shooting: 1 killed, 1 injured outside McDonald's on Fry Road According to Sheriff Gonzalez, Arbaiza was buying Happy Meals for his grandchildren when he was shot. "What struck a nerve for our team and I was this; Mr. Arbaiza's lasting gesture as he took his last breath, was him making the sign of the cross of Jesus Christ and praying. May he Rest in Peace," the sheriff shared in his update. The sheriff also says one of the shooters' guns was equipped with a "Glock Switch" that allowed the weapon to be used as an automatic instead of a semi-automatic. The sheriff's office says at least two males from each group shot at each other. Investigators reviewed surveillance camera footage and were able to locate a suspect vehicle. Authorities say they also identified several other people involved in the incident. What you can do Anyone with information is asked to contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Office at 713-274-9100 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477). The Source Information in this article was provided by Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and a previous FOX 26 report.
