Lack of access to comprehensive firearm trace and recovery data makes it difficult to obtain information on how often specific makes, models, and calibers of firearms are recovered by law enforcement in connection with a crime. The following examples of .22 assault weapons and assault shotguns recovered from crime scenes is drawn primarily from news reports and the limited information released by individual law enforcement agencies.
American Tactical .22 caliber assault rifle recovered by Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. with suspect charged with simple assault, threat to kidnap or injure a person, and carrying a rifle outside a home or business in 2024
https://vpc.org/regulating-the-gun-industry/assault-on-dc/
Murder with a .22 assault rifle at a Texas Sonic restaurant in 2023
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/10/11/texas-sonic-murder-boy-rifle/
Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 .22 caliber assault rifle recovered by Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. in 2023
https://vpc.org/regulating-the-gun-industry/assault-on-dc/
Mossberg .22 assault rifle seized by Rhode Island High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force during arrest of two individuals for narcotics and weapons offenses in 2023
https://fallriverreporter.com/rhode-island-state-police-hidta-task-force-seize-8-guns-drugs-21000-in-cash-after-arresting-2/
Mossberg 715P .22 caliber assault pistol recovered by Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. with suspect charged with multiple firearm-related charges in 2023
https://vpc.org/regulating-the-gun-industry/assault-on-dc/
German Sports Guns GSG-5 .22 caliber assault rifle recovered by Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. with suspect charged with recklessly endangering a child’s physical, mental, or emotional health, as well as multiple firearm-related charges in 2023
https://vpc.org/regulating-the-gun-industry/assault-on-dc/
Charles Daly AR-12A 12-gauge assault shotgun recovered by Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. in 2023
https://vpc.org/regulating-the-gun-industry/assault-on-dc/
AR-12 shotgun seized by Lincoln Parish Narcotics Enforcement Team during investigation in 2022
https://vpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/lincoln-sheriff.jpg
Panzer Arms AR-12 shotgun recovered from convicted felon in Pueblo, Colorado in 2022
https://www.kktv.com/2022/04/01/convicted-felon-allegedly-possession-meth-stolen-car-colorado-springs-panzer-arms-ar-12-shotgun-arrested-pueblo/
AR-12 shotgun with 50-round drum magazine seized by Tuskegee, Alabama police in shooting incident in 2022
https://www.waka.com/2022/07/13/tuskegee-police-arrest-two-in-shooting-incident-while-responding-to-a-separate-call-weapons-and-drugs-seized/
Drug-related incident with shots fired involving a .22 assault rifle in Tennessee in 2020
https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/five-arrested-after-greene-co-authorities-respond-to-shots-fired-call/
https://www.citizentribune.com/news/local/shots-fired-lead-to-multiple-drug-arrests/article_c9362512-42b8-11ea-a288-67c87fe0dc4e.html
GSG and Smith & Wesson .22 assault rifles seized in Connecticut in 2016 drug arrest
https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Bridgeport-man-nabbed-on-drug-weapons-charges-8118239.php
Mossberg .22 assault rifle recovered from a felon in possession of drugs and a firearm in Waterloo, Iowa in 2015
https://waterloopolice.com/press-release/1446-guns-seized-and-arrest-made-in-shooting-incidents.html
M&P 15 .22 assault rifle seized during investigation into the distribution of cocaine in Delaware County, Pennsylvania in 2013
https://www.delcotimes.com/2013/04/03/guns-and-drugs-confiscated-in-collingdale-raid/
Murder with a .22 assault rifle in Alabama in 2012
https://www.waka.com/2018/12/03/wilcox-co-man-on-trial-for-murder-of-dallas-co-man/
https://www.selmatimesjournal.com/2012/12/21/after-treatment-murder-suspect-in-custody/
