Santa Clara Teen Charged for Allegedly Making Ghost Guns

The rise of 3D-printed untraceable firearms poses a growing threat to public safety

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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An 18-year-old in San Jose, California, now faces felony charges after authorities discovered a sophisticated operation to manufacture ghost guns, or untraceable firearms, in his bedroom. The case highlights the increasing accessibility of 3D-printed ghost guns and the challenges they present to law enforcement.

Why it matters

Ghost guns, which lack serial numbers, pose a significant threat to public safety as they can be acquired without background checks and are often used in criminal activities. The proliferation of 3D printing technology has dramatically lowered the barrier to entry for ghost gun manufacturing, making it easier for individuals to create these untraceable weapons.

The details

The 18-year-old suspect was found to have two 3D printers actively creating weapons, with 27 guns either finished or nearly completed. Some of these weapons were even modified to function as machine guns. All but one of the firearms seized were manufactured using the 3D printers.

  • The Santa Clara County Gun Violence Task Force was established in 2024.
  • Since its inception, the task force has seized or confirmed the relinquishment of 405 guns.

The players

Jeff Rosen

The Santa Clara County District Attorney, who emphasized the threat posed by the black market of untraceable weapons.

Santa Clara County Gun Violence Task Force

A task force comprised of investigators from the District Attorney's office, the San Jose Police Department's GHOST Unit, and other law enforcement agencies, working to combat the rise of ghost guns.

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What they’re saying

“There is a black market of weapons thriving right under our noses.”

— Jeff Rosen, Santa Clara County District Attorney

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the 18-year-old suspect out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing threat of ghost guns, which are untraceable firearms manufactured using 3D printing technology. It underscores the need for continued vigilance and innovative law enforcement strategies to address this issue and protect public safety.