Assault on DC

Assault Weapons Recovered in the District of Columbia in 2023

A common misconception is that assault weapons are used almost solely in mass shootings and that regulating or banning these military-bred guns only affects firearm death and injury in that context. In fact, assault weapons are routinely recovered by law enforcement in connection to numerous other crimes.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) releases weekly updates detailing a portion of the firearms recovered in the District of Columbia. Information on the associated criminal charges is included in some of the entries. The VPC has compiled the following list of assault weapons recovered in the District in 2023 and will regularly update the information.

Assault weapons are banned in the District of Columbia, and it is a well-established fact that the vast majority of all firearms recovered in DC come from other jurisdictions. The high number of assault weapons recovered in the District is just the latest proof of the need for a national ban on these weapons of war.

In addition, District of Columbia law includes a provision specifically allowing victims of assault weapon shooting to sue for damages.

Updated 9/18/2023


September 7, 2023, an Arsenal 5.56mm caliber assault rifle was recovered.

September 7, 2023, a Double Star 15 5.56mm caliber assault rifle, an Armalite M-15A2 5.56mm caliber assault rifle, an Adams Arms 5.56mm caliber assault rifle, a B-West Imports AK-47 7.62mm caliber assault rifle, a Springfield Armory M1A 7.62mm caliber assault rifle, a Springfield Armory M1A unknown caliber assault rifle, and a 5.56mm caliber assault rifle were recovered.

September 5, 2023, a .223 caliber “Ghost Gun” assault rifle was recovered and two suspects were charged with receiving stolen property and multiple firearm-related charges.

September 4, 2023, a Charles Daly AR-12A 12 gauge assault shotgun was recovered.

August 25, 2023, a Century Arms Micro Draco 7.62mm caliber assault pistol was recovered and three suspects were charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, fugitive from justice, and multiple drug and firearm-related charges.

August 25, 2023, a Century Arms PAP-M92PV 7.62mm caliber assault pistol was recovered and six suspects were charged with multiple firearm-related charges.

August 22, 2023, a Masterpiece Arms Defender Series Grim Reaper 9mm caliber assault pistol was recovered and a suspect was charged with being a felon in possession and multiple other firearm-related charges.

August 18, 2023, a Century Arms Micro Draco 7.62mm caliber assault pistol and a Century Arms Mini Draco 7.62mm caliber assault pistol were recovered and two suspects were charged with multiple drug and firearm-related charges.

August 18, 2023, a Springfield Armory Saint Victor assault rifle was recovered.

August 12, 2023, a Century Arms Micro Draco 7.62mm caliber assault pistol was recovered.

August 11, 2023, an Anderson Arms AM-15 .223 caliber assault rifle was recovered.

August 11, 2023, a Romanian Arms Cugir WASR-10 7.62mm caliber assault rifle was recovered and three suspects were charged with receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle – crime of violence, and multiple firearm-related charges.

August 4, 2023, a Del-Ton DTI-15 5.56mm caliber assault rifle was recovered.

August 2, 2023, a Bushmaster XM-15-E25 .223 caliber assault rifle, a Seekins Precision SP-15 .223 caliber assault rifle, and a Ruger AR-556 5.56mm caliber assault rifle were recovered.

August 2, 2023, a Romarm AK-47 7.62mm caliber assault rifle and an AR-15 “Ghost Gun” assault rifle were recovered.

July 25, 2023, a Century Arms C-39 V2 7.62mm caliber assault rifle was recovered.

July 23, 2023, an Intratec TEC-9 9mm caliber assault pistol was recovered.

July 22, 2023, a Zastava Mini Draco 5.56mm caliber assault pistol was recovered.

July 19, 2023, a Tegra Arms .223 caliber assault rifle was recovered.

July 16, 2023, a .300 caliber AR-15 assault rifle was recovered. A suspect was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance while armed, and multiple firearm-related charges.

July 13, 2023, a Century Arms Draco 7.62mm caliber assault pistol was recovered. A suspect was charged with multiple firearm-related charges.

July 4, 2023, a Century Arms Draco NAK9 9mm caliber assault pistol was recovered.

June 29, 2023, a Century Arms Micro VSKA 7.62mm caliber assault pistol was recovered along with two other handguns. Two suspects were charged with multiple firearm-related charges.

June 28, 2023, a Del-Ton DTI-15 5.56mm caliber assault rifle was recovered.

June 26, 2023, an EP Armory .223 caliber assault rifle was recovered.

June 21, 2023, an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 7.62mm caliber assault pistol was recovered. Two suspects were charged with multiple firearm-related charges.

June 9, 2023, a Radical Firearms 5.56mm caliber assault rifle was recovered. A suspect was charged with felon in possession and other firearm-related charges.

June 6, 2023, a Springfield Armory Saint 5.56mm caliber assault rifle was recovered.

June 5, 2023, an American Tactical Omni Hybrid multi-caliber assault rifle was recovered. A suspect was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana while armed and multiple firearm-related charges.

June 5, 2023, an American Tactical Omni .300 caliber assault rifle was recovered. A suspect was charged with multiple firearm-related charges.

June 1, 2023, a 5.56mm caliber “Ghost Gun” assault rifle and an Anderson Arms AM-15 5.56mm caliber assault rifle were recovered.

June 1, 2023, a Palmetto State Armory PA-15 .223 caliber assault rifle was recovered.

May 24, 2023, a Palmetto Arms PA-15 5.56mm caliber assault rifle and an Anderson Arms AM-15 multi-caliber assault rifle were recovered. Two juvenile suspects were charged with multiple firearm-related charges.

May 24, 2023, a FMK AR-1 Extreme 5.56mm caliber assault rifle was recovered.

May 17, 2023, an American Tactical Omni Hybrid 5.56mm caliber assault pistol was recovered. A suspect was charged with conspiracy to commit crime, receiving stolen property, and multiple firearm-related charges.

May 16, 2023, a .223 “Ghost Gun” assault rifle was recovered.

May 15, 2023, a Kel-Tec PLR-16 5.56mm caliber assault pistol was recovered. A suspect was charged with conspiracy to simple assault and multiple firearm-related charges.

May 3, 2023, a Pioneer Arms Hellpup 7.62mm caliber assault pistol and a Professional Ordnance Carbon 15 5.56mm assault rifle were recovered. Two suspects were charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and multiple firearm-related charges.

May 1, 2023, a Century Arms Micro-Draco 7.62mm caliber assault pistol was recovered. A suspect was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and multiple firearm-related charges.

April 25, 2023, a Pioneer Arms Sporter 7.62mm caliber assault rifle was recovered. A suspect was charged with simple assault and multiple drug- and firearm-related charges.

April 25, 2023, an assault rifle was recovered. A suspect was charged with fugitive from justice and multiple firearm-related charges.

April 13, 2023, a Draco assault pistol was recovered. A suspect was charged with possession of a controlled substance and multiple firearm-related charges.

April 13, 2023, a Kalashnikov assault rifle was recovered.

April 11, 2023, a .223 “Ghost Gun” assault rifle was recovered.

April 9, 2023, a Euro Arms AK-47 machine gun was recovered.

April 8, 2023, an EP Armory .223 assault rifle was recovered.

April 2, 2023, a Radical Firearms RF-15 assault rifle was recovered. A suspect was charged with multiple firearm-related charges.

March 31, 2023, a 5.56mm caliber “Ghost Gun” assault rifle was recovered.

March 25, 2023, a 5.56mm caliber assault rifle was recovered.

March 20, 2023, a GSG 16 .22 assault rifle was recovered. A suspect was charged with multiple firearm-related charges.

March 15, 2023, a Century Arms Micro-Draco 7.62mm caliber assault pistol was recovered.

March 8, 2023, a Colt M4 Carbine 5.56mm caliber assault rifle was recovered.

March 8, 2023, a LWRC M61C .223 assault rifle was recovered.

March 8, 2023, a .223 “Ghost Gun” assault rifle was recovered. A suspect was charged with firearm-related charges.

March 7, 2023, a MasterPiece Arms 9mm assault pistol was recovered. A suspect was charged with unlawful entry and multiple firearm-related charges.

March 4, 2023, a Palmetto State Armory PA-15 assault rifle was recovered. A suspect was charged with unlawful entry and unlawful manufacturing/possession/transportation of a semi-automatic rifle.

March 3, 2023, an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 5.56mm caliber assault rifle was recovered. A suspect was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, felon in possession, misuse of passport, and other firearm-related charges.

March 2, 2023, a Diamondback DB-15 5.56mm caliber assault rifle was recovered. Two suspects were charged with multiple firearm-related charges.

February 28, 2023, a Cobray M11 9mm caliber assault pistol was recovered. A suspect was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, leaving after colliding – property damage, destruction of property, reckless driving, and other firearm-related charges.

February 19, 2023, a Zastava ZPAP-85 5.56mm caliber assault rifle was recovered.

February 16, 2023, a 5.56mm caliber “Ghost Gun” assault rifle was recovered.

February 6, 2023, a Palmetto PA-15 5.56 caliber assault rifle was recovered.

February 4, 2023, a Smith & Wesson M&P-15 5.56 caliber assault rifle was recovered. Two suspects were charged with Unlawful Entry along with other firearm-related charges.

January 30, 2023, a Century Arms Micro-Draco 7.62mm caliber assault pistol was recovered. A suspect was charged with Receiving Stolen Property, Leaving After Colliding, and Fugitive from Justice among other charges.

January 28, 2023, an Inter-Arms Radon Hellpup 7.62×39 caliber assault rifle was recovered.

January 26, 2023, two assault rifles and a Draco assault rifle were recovered. Multiple suspects were charged with firearm-related crimes.

January 23, 2023, a Kel-Tec Sub-2000 9mm caliber assault Carbine was recovered.

January 22, 2023, a Century Arms Mini Draco 7.62x.39mm caliber assault pistol was recovered.

January 18, 2023, a Double Star Star-15 5.56mm caliber assault rifle and a Zastava Arms ZPAP-92 7.62×39 assault rifle were recovered and a suspect was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance along with other firearm-related charges.

January 18, 2023, a 223/5.56mm caliber “Ghost Gun” assault rifle was recovered from two suspects. Charges of Felon in Possession and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance were filed along with firearm-related charges.

January 15, 2023, a Vulcan V10 .45 assault pistol was recovered and a suspect was charged with carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of unregistered ammunition, driving while intoxicated, no permit, fugitive from justice, and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device

January 15, 2023, an Olympic Arms MFR 5.56mm caliber assault rifle was recovered.

January 10, 2023, a Zastava 7.62x39mm caliber assault rifle was recovered and a suspect was charged with possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and leaving after colliding – property damage.

January 4, 2023, a Century Arms Ras-47 7.62x39mm caliber assault rifle was recovered.

January 3, 2023, an American Tactical Omni-Hybrid 5.56mm caliber assault rifle was recovered.