Teen arrested in Aurora shooting illegally modified handgun

AURORA, Colo. — Aurora police say one of the teens arrested following a shooting near an Aurora basketball court was in possession of an illegally modified handgun.

This handgun was equipped with a detector.

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

“Their sole purpose is to convert a firearm into a machine gun,” Cody Toy, of the ATF's criminal firearms technology branch, said 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 teens, just 15 years old, had an illegally modified handgun equipped with one of these detectors.

Detectives found several shell casings at the scene, but say it's unclear whether the illegal handgun recovered 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, launching a program called Summer Vibes, a series of afternoon events in city parks.

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

“We're trying to make sure Aurora's teens and youth have a safe space to go,” said Lexie Ries of Aurora Parks, Rec & Open Space.

From creating safe spaces to recognizing automatic switches, the hope is to provide better safety for teens this summer.

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

Police: Teen arrested in Aurora shooting illegally modified handgun