An 18-year-old who allegedly printed untraceable “ghost guns” at a New York nursery owned by his mother is among three people arrested over a manufacturing operation being run out of the creche.
This week, multiple 3D-printed guns, including an assault pistol that was in the final stages, as well as a printer, were found in a room unlocked at the East Harlem Nursery.
The raid came days after a trap-door containing packages of drugs including fentanyl was discovered during a police raid on another nursery, less than five miles from the first one. A boy aged just one died of apparent opioid poisoning.
“This is a heartbreaking scenario, thinking that you’re dropping your child off to a place of safe haven just to find out that it was a dangerous environment where someone was making a gun inside”, Eric Adams, mayor of New York City, told a press conference on Wednesday.
He said officials will “stay ahead of bad people that are doing bad things where our children are”.
Police arrested three suspects in total, including two minors.
‘Scary to everyone’
Karon Coley, 18, is accused of manufacturing “ghost guns” with a 3D printer out of his mother’s flat, where she operated a licensed nursery.
He was accused of criminal possession of an armed loaded firearm, manufacturing of a machinegun, manufacturing of a rapid-fire modified device, and manufacture of dangerous instruments, among other charges.
It is unclear if Mr Coley’s mother is facing charges.
Mr Adams said: “You’ve got an 18-year-old in his room with a 3D printer. He’s not making little robotic toys. He’s making guns and that should be scary to everyone.”
The nursery’s last inspection was done in February. Three violations were cited, including those relating to the sleeping schedules of children, their feeding and documentation.
Two weeks ago, four children who attended a daycare in the Bronx near the centre were treated for an opioid poisoning. Nicholas Dominici was believed to have passed away from the exposure.
Police found drugs underneath a trapdoor, as well as 1 kilogram of Fentanyl on mats used by kids for naps.