A 22-year-old Lakeside man attending the annual Chula Vista Block Party on Third Avenue Friday afternoon was arrested for possessing an unserialized firearm, known as a ghost gun.
Officers with the Chula Vista Police Department located a man who possessed a loaded ghost gun with an extended magazine and a threaded barrel, CVPD Police Chief Roxanna Kennedy told a local news outlet.
The man was later identified as Ralph Fojo, who wore a cross-body bag when officers noticed the bull of a firearm sticking out, CVPD Sgt. Anthony Molina said, reported Fox 5. According to Molina, officers discovered the gun and seven rounds of ammunition after a pat-down.
Police recovered the firearm, and Fojo was arrested, facing several charges that include carrying a loaded firearm in a public place, carrying a loaded firearm and not being the registered owner, and possession of an assault weapon, among others.
“Your safety is our duty and remained our top priority,” wrote the department in a social media post on Saturday. “A big KUDOS to our first responders and special events team for working diligently so our community could enjoy the party!”
The department used the hashtag “seesomethingsaysomething” to encourage the community to engage with law enforcement and city leaders when there is an issue.
Fojo’s arrest comes as the nation recovers from several mass shootings in Chicago, New York, Missouri, Virginia, and Texas on the Fourth of July weekend.
