North Charleston Traffic Stop Leads to Illegal Machine Gun Arrest

Police seized a firearm and machine gun conversion device from a Summerville man's vehicle.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:25pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a machine gun conversion device's metallic components and intricate mechanisms, sharply in focus against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, and investigative aesthetic.A recent traffic stop in North Charleston uncovered an illegal machine gun conversion device, highlighting the ongoing challenge of removing untraceable firearms from circulation.Charleston Today

A routine traffic stop in North Charleston, South Carolina led to the arrest of a 23-year-old Summerville man after police discovered an illegal machine gun and other weapons in his vehicle. The driver, Deon Daekwon Geathers, was charged with possession of a machine gun and taken into custody.

Why it matters

The discovery of an illegal machine gun during a routine traffic stop highlights ongoing concerns about the proliferation of untraceable and unregistered firearms, as well as the potential risks posed by such weapons in the hands of private citizens.

The details

Officers with the North Charleston Police Department's Gang Intervention Team pulled over Geathers' vehicle after observing it run a stop sign and having illegally tinted windows. After a police dog alerted to the presence of drugs, officers searched the car and found a firearm on the driver's seat and a machine gun conversion device in the center console.

  • The traffic stop occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2026.
  • Geathers was arrested and booked at the Al Cannon Detention Center following the incident.

The players

Deon Daekwon Geathers

A 23-year-old man from Summerville, South Carolina who was arrested and charged with possession of a machine gun.

North Charleston Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that conducted the traffic stop and discovered the illegal weapons.

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What they’re saying

“There was a firearm inside the vehicle.”

— Deon Daekwon Geathers

What’s next

Geathers is expected to appear before a judge who will determine whether to grant him bail pending trial on the machine gun possession charge.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in removing illegal firearms from circulation and the need for continued vigilance to address the proliferation of untraceable weapons that pose a threat to public safety.