By Gina Yarbrough
San Marcos, CA–A man possessing a ghost gun was arrested in San Marcos on Friday evening, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said.
The Sheriff’s Department responded to a call from concerned neighbors in the 500 block of Spanish Oak Avenue of reports of a group of suspicious individuals around 11 p.m.
Upon arrival, deputies encountered four individuals near a pickup truck. During the initial contact, a handgun loaded with bullets was observed on the passenger seat. The firearm, it was later determined, was a ghost gun, the Sheriff’s Department stated in a news release.
Ghost guns, unlike firearms manufactured by licensed entities, lack serial numbers or other identifiable markings. The absence of a serial number presents significant challenges for law enforcement agencies, as it hampers their ability to trace these firearms to their owners or manufacturers, thus impeding investigations and crime-solving efforts.
The driver of the pickup truck, identified as 22-year-old Tristan Banuelos, was placed under arrest. Banuelos faces felony charges, including carrying a loaded gun in a public place or public street, as well as owning or possessing a gun without a serial number.
The San Marcos Sheriff’s Station urges anyone with information regarding this incident or similar occurrences to come forward and assist in maintaining the safety and security of the community.
