Missile launcher shows up at Seattle gun buyback
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Seattle Police Department officers examine an inert surface to air missile launcher brought to the gun buy back program run by the Seattle Police Department on Saturday, January 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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Seattle Police Department officers inspect a missile launcher after it was seized from Mason Vranish, after he purchased it from outside a gun buyback program in Seattle, Washington, January 26, 2013. Police will verify if the used one-time use weapon is legal to be owned by the public. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Seattle Police Department Sgt. Paul Gracy holds an inert surface to air missile launcher brought to gun buy back program run by the Seattle Police Department on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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Seattle Police Officer R.S. Curtis looks over a M-16 that was turned in during a gun buyback event in Seattle, Washington January 26, 2013. Participants received up to a $100 gift card in exchange for working handguns, shotguns and rifles, and up to a $200 gift card for assault weapons. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A fraction of the 716 guns obtained by Seattle during Saturday's gun buyback, seen during a news conference, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Seattle. Seattle police worked with Army officials to track down the history of the nonfunctional missile launcher that showed up at a weapons buyback program and determine whether it was legal or possibly stolen from the military. -- PHOTO: KEN LAMBERT/THE SEATTLE TIMES/AP
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Seattle Police Department Sgt. Paul Gracy (L) seizes a missile launcher from Mason Vranish which Vranish had purchased outside a gun buyback program in Seattle, Washington January 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Seattle Police Department officers examine an inert surface to air missile launcher brought to the gun buy back program run by the Seattle Police Department on Saturday, January 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Seattle Police Department officers inspect a missile launcher after it was seized from Mason Vranish, after he purchased it from outside a gun buyback program in Seattle, Washington, January 26, 2013. Police will verify if the used one-time use weapon is legal to be owned by the public. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Seattle Police Department Sgt. Paul Gracy holds an inert surface to air missile launcher brought to gun buy back program run by the Seattle Police Department on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Seattle Police Officer R.S. Curtis looks over a M-16 that was turned in during a gun buyback event in Seattle, Washington January 26, 2013. Participants received up to a $100 gift card in exchange for working handguns, shotguns and rifles, and up to a $200 gift card for assault weapons. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A fraction of the 716 guns obtained by Seattle during Saturday's gun buyback, seen during a news conference, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Seattle. Seattle police worked with Army officials to track down the history of the nonfunctional missile launcher that showed up at a weapons buyback program and determine whether it was legal or possibly stolen from the military. -- PHOTO: KEN LAMBERT/THE SEATTLE TIMES/AP
Seattle Police Department Sgt. Paul Gracy (L) seizes a missile launcher from Mason Vranish which Vranish had purchased outside a gun buyback program in Seattle, Washington January 26, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
SEATTLE (AP) - Seattle police worked with Army officials on Monday to track down the history of a nonfunctional missile launcher that showed up at a weapons buyback program and determine whether it was legal or possibly stolen from the military.
A man standing outside the event on Saturday bought the military weapon for US$100 (S$123) from another person there, according to Detective Mark Jamieson.
The single-use device is a launch tube assembly for a Stinger portable surface-to-air missile and already had been used. As a controlled military item, it is not available to civilians through any surplus or disposal programme offered by the government, according to Jamieson.
Seattle police have contacted Army officials at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma to deputy chief Nick Metz said on Monday. "Once it's brought on base and investigators have a chance to look at it, they'll see what they can determine," Army spokesman Joe Kubistek said Monday. "It's too early to give any information on it until we have hands-on access to see it and take a look at it."
