An 18-year-old was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly having two "ghost" guns, including one loaded with a 29-caliber round magazine.

According to a media statement from the Springfield Police Department, detectives arrested 18-year-old Kenney Menendez on Tuesday after several weeks of illegal firearms investigations.

Officers were outside the suspect's home conducting surveillance when Menendez was observed leaving the house, getting into a waiting car, and being driven away. The car then stopped at the intersection of State and Andrew Streets and Menendez got out of the car.

Detectives then detained Menendez and three other occupants of the car. Police recovered a ghost gun from the pocket of the hoodie Menendez was wearing. They also found a loaded Ghost Gun with a 29 round magazine inside the car.

Now, up until probably a year ago, I freely admit I had absolutely no idea what exactly a ghost gun was. If you are new to the term, "ghost" guns are untraceable firearms assembled from parts bought online. Thus, the guns have no serial numbers and are therefore untraceable. Ghost guns can be purchased without a background check and by pretty much anyone, including minors.

Apparently, they've been around for a number of years, however, the term "ghost gun" is new. Police officers in the past have simply referred to them as "homemade" guns or "kit" guns.

Menendez was placed under arrest. The other three occupants of the vehicle were released. Kenny Menendez of Springfield is being charged with:

  • Carrying a Firearm without a License(2 counts)
  • Carrying a Loaded Large Capacity Firearm on a Public Way
  • Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm

For more on the story, please visit the Springfield Police Department's website here.

25 True Crime Locations: What Do They Look Like Today?

Below, find out where 25 of the most infamous crimes in history took place — and what the locations are used for today. (If they've been left standing.)

READ ON: See the States Where People Live the Longest

Stacker used data from the 2020 County Health Rankings to rank every state's average life expectancy from lowest to highest. The 2020 County Health Rankings values were calculated using mortality counts from the 2016-2018 National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey and America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2019 data were also used to provide demographics on the senior population of each state and the state's rank on senior health care, respectively.

Read on to learn the average life expectancy in each state.

LOOK: See the iconic cars that debuted the year you were born

LOOK: The top holiday toys from the year you were born

With the holiday spirit in the air, it’s the perfect time to dive into the history of iconic holiday gifts. Using national toy archives and data curated by The Strong from 1920 to today, Stacker searched for products that caught hold of the public zeitgeist through novelty, innovation, kitsch, quirk, or simply great timing, and then rocketed to success.

More From WSBS 860AM