Teen Arrested for Alleged Possession of 'Machine Gun' in Boston

Boston police say the firearm had a mechanism that made it fully automatic.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:19pm

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Boston police arrested a 19-year-old Dorchester resident, Andre Vega, on Tuesday afternoon and charged him with possession of a machine gun, possession of a loaded machine gun, carrying a firearm without a license, and possession of ammunition without an FID card. Officers allegedly found the Glock 29 handgun with a mechanism that made it fully automatic during a pat-down search of Vega, who was a passenger in a vehicle they had been following.

Why it matters

The arrest highlights ongoing concerns about illegal firearms and the potential for violence involving automatic weapons in Boston neighborhoods. Police say they are focused on removing dangerous weapons from the streets to improve public safety.

The details

According to the police report, officers saw a vehicle they suspected contained firearms and followed it to a parking lot. The driver did not have a license, and the rear passenger, Vega, kept his arm pinned to his waistband. After a pat-down search, police say they recovered the Glock 29 handgun from Vega's waistband, which they determined had been modified to be fully automatic.

  • The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, April 1, 2026.
  • Boston police responded to the scene around 5:25 p.m.

The players

Andre Vega

A 19-year-old resident of Dorchester who was arrested and charged with possession of a machine gun, possession of a loaded machine gun, carrying a firearm without a license, and possession of ammunition without an FID card.

Boston Police Department

The law enforcement agency that arrested Vega and charged him with the firearms-related offenses.

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What they’re saying

“The gun also had a mechanism that would make it a fully automatic firearm.”

— Boston Police Department

What’s next

The judge will decide on Thursday whether to grant bail for Andre Vega.

The takeaway

This arrest underscores the ongoing challenge of removing illegal firearms, especially those modified to be fully automatic, from Boston's streets. It raises questions about the effectiveness of current gun laws and the need for enhanced enforcement and community-based solutions to address the root causes of gun violence.