Three arrested on illegal gun charges in Fall River

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — Responding to calls of a gunshot, Fall River police made three illegal firearm-related arrests Sunday night at the Maple Gardens Housing Development.

Steven Collazo Martinez, 19, Elias Ramos, 18 and William McCarthy, 21 have been charged with carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license and possession of an unregistered firearm.

Martinez faces an additional charge of firearm violation with one prior violent/drug offense.

The arrests followed FRPD’s response to Maple Gardens on Aetna Street at approximately 10 p.m. Sunday for a reported gunshot.

Several juveniles also reported seeing a man in the area with a firearm, according to the Fall River Police Department.

Arriving detectives observed a group of individuals gathered in the area, and recognized Ramos as he walked away from the group wearing a crossbody bag and entered a Honda Accord.

The vehicle left the area with its taillights off, and police initiated a traffic stop.

Ramos, Martinez and McCarthy were identified as the vehicle’s occupants, and Ramos was no longer wearing the crossbody bag, according to officers.

The bag was found in the back seat of the Accord and appeared to show the shape of a firearm.

A Polymer 80 9mm handgun loaded with five rounds of ammunition was found inside the bag, and a large 3D printer was also located inside the vehicle.

There was no evidence of a gunshot found at the scene.