Teen Accused Of Damaging Vernon Condos With Plastic Gun Bought Online

VERNON, CT — A Vernon teen is accused of damaging several condominium units at a local complex with a mostly plastic handgun he purchased online and then assembled at home, police said.

Cory Taylor, 19, posted a $50,000 bond after being served a warrant in the case and is due in court on May 17, according to a warrant.

He has been charged with illegally manufacturing a polymer or plastic gun, the illegal discharge of a firearm, second-degree breach of peace (four counts), tampering with evidence, third-degree criminal mischief (three counts) and second-degree reckless endangerment (four counts).

The case dates back to late 2021, shortly after the gun was purchased online, according to a warrant. The gun comes 80 percent assembled and a hardware kit can be purchased separately to make it operable, police said.

Detectives determined that a single round was fired from the gun inside Taylor's bedroom at a local condo complex, something Taylor claimed was by accident, according to a warrant.

The bullet traveled into an adjoining unit, where two people lived, then into another unit where one person lived and into another unit, where another person lived, according to a warrant. It was eventually stopped by a large beam, according to a warrant.

The gun, which resembles a Glock pistol, employs 9mm rounds and was being handled "in an unsafe manner," detectives said in a warrant. The pistol featured an "80 percent lower" frame and is commonly known as a "ghost gun," police said in a warrant.

After the gun was fired, Taylor is accused of haphazardly disposing of it in the Hockanum River. He also hastily discarded the bullets, according to a warrant.

Taylor is not eligible for a pistol permit because of his age, the warrant states.