NEW ROCHELLE, NY — File this report under “there are no coincidences.”
New Rochelle Police Officers executed an early morning search warrant early last Tuesday morning at 81 Highland Avenue.
Police officers seized loaded hand guns, ammunition feed devices, bulletproof vests, ghost gun part, rifles, and a silencer.
Ten hours later, at about 4 pm, New Rochelle Police Officers tracked Tommy Rivera to his home at 16 Glen Place after a shooting several blocks away and seized a ghost gun (pictured above) described by the Westchester County District Attorney as the “murder weapon” in the killing of Julian Oliveros. Inside Rivera’s bedroom, police seized ghost gun kits and parts that could be assembled to make two more guns, a drill, and ammunition.
From the back of the property at 81 Highland Avenue to the front of the property at 16 Glen Place is less than 100 feet.
The close proximity of what appears to be two “ghost gun factories” with arrests on gun charges at both locations on the same day just hours apart and a murder involving one of the ghost guns had led New Rochelle detectives to consider a possible connection between the two cases, sources say.
An NRPD spokesperson declined to comment on an active investigation.
Rivera and other neighbors would have been able to see and hear police activity at such an early hour raising the question of whether a spooked Rivera took his gun from his home when he left for New Rochelle High School that morning after his neighbor was arrested.
As the conclusion of “Operation Casper”, search warrants were executed Tuesday, January 25, at eight locations in Westchester and Putnam by investigators from County, local, and federal law enforcement agencies. Eleven suspects are now facing state or federal charges after more than 100 weapons were seized, and 11 persons were arrested this week following a six-month multi-agency investigation into “ghost guns” and other illegal firearms in Westchester and Putnam Counties.
Among those arrested that day was Juan Sanchez, 28, of 81 Highland Avenue, New Rochelle. Sanchez was charged by New Rochelle Police with 3 Counts Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree – Loaded Firearm, 3 Counts Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree – Disguised Gun, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree, 40 Counts Unlawful Possession Ammo Feed Device and 4 Counts Criminal Possession Weapon 3rd Degree – Silencer.
Later in the day on Tuesday January 25th, at about 3:38pm, New Rochelle Police received a call of a shooting that had just occurred on the corner of Fourth Street and Washington Avenue. Upon arrival, Officers located Julian Oliveros, a 16-year-old male victim with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers administered First Aid and the victim was transported to a hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and succumbed to his injures.
Suspect information was immediately developed, and New Rochelle Detectives were able to locate and arrest Tommy Rivera, a 16-year-old male suspect near Glen Place and Beechwood Avenue, who was found to be in possession of a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun.
In court yesterday, a court officer stated that Tommy Rivera resides at 16 Glen Place, where he lives with his mother and grandmother.
Juan Sanchez was arrested early Tuesday morning at 81 Highland Avenue. Tommy Rivera was arrested Tuesday afternoon less than 100 feet away on Tuesday afternoon.
In a press release last Wednesday, the Westchester County Police Department said 100 “ghost guns” and other illegal firearms were seized in Westchester and Putnam Counties as the result of a six-month multi-agency investigation.
Six months ago, the New Rochelle Police Department issued a seemingly comical account of a robbery by two men with Super Soaker water guns. An NRPD spokesperson said he did not believe the Super Soakers were disguised guns.
A “Disguised Gun” is described in the New York State penal code as a firearm, rifle, pistol, shotgun or machine-gun transformed to resemble a toy gun by either altering or concealing the original color or surface of the gun with the purpose of selling such weapon.
Among the charges facing Juan Sanchez are 3 Counts Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree – Disguised Gun.
There has been at least one case of disguising a real gun inside a Super Soaker in Westchester County, according to one law enforcement source.
Where is the New Rochelle Interfaith Council with all this gun violence? Why aren’t they holding a March or a pow wow with the religious organizations and city? or does that only apply to certain communities?