A call about possible gunfire in Berkeley turned out to be fireworks. It still ended with three people under arrest on gun charges. The report came in early Sunday, around 2:20 a.m., near Seventh Street and Dwight Way. Berkeley police say a fireworks investigation led them to a loaded, unserialized firearm inside a nearby home. All three people are now facing charges, though none has been convicted of anything.
Officers were sent to the area after someone reported what sounded like gunshots. When they got there, it was obvious fireworks had been set off in the street. They also saw several people heading into a nearby house. Fireworks are illegal in Berkeley, so officers went to the home and made contact with three people inside.
One of the three admitted to setting off the fireworks, police say. Officers then searched the home for any leftover fireworks. They didn’t find more fireworks. What they found instead, according to the department, was a loaded AR-style pistol with no serial number. Nearby were ammunition and a ballistic helmet.
All three were arrested on suspicion of being felons in possession of firearms and ammunition. But what officers found, including the fact that it was likely an unserialized gun, is the most important part of the case. If you’re unsure what an unserialized gun is, we’ll get into that too.
What is an Unserialized Gun?
A firearm with no serial number is also known as a “ghost gun.” They’re built from parts or kits rather than bought finished from a licensed dealer. That means they skip the serial number that lets the police trace where weapons come from and are sold to. California has some of the strictest rules in the country on them, meaning weapons need serialization and background checks.
The other piece is who is accused of having it. It’s generally illegal for someone with a felony record to possess a firearm or ammunition at all, under both federal and California law. That’s the core of what these three are accused of, being felons in possession. It’s a serious charge, and it’s also, at this stage, only a charge. Whether each person actually had a disqualifying record and knowingly possessed the items is something prosecutors would have to prove.
Why Fireworks Bring Out the Police in Berkeley
None of this would have unfolded without the fireworks. In Berkeley, all fireworks are illegal, including the ones sold legally in other parts of California. The city warns that they can start fires and injure people, which is a real concern in a dense, hilly area heading into a dry summer. With the Fourth of July weekend here, police are paying extra attention to fireworks reports.
Berkeley police are asking residents to report any illegal fireworks through the department’s non-emergency line. The city has also put out guidance on celebrating the holiday safely, if anyone decides to go out and have a good time. So there are a couple of things to keep in mind here: watch out where you’re shooting off fireworks. And if you’re going to have them around, make sure you don’t have a bunch of ghost guns around, too.