Headlight Violation Leads To Loaded Gun Arrest In Boston

A simple traffic stop turned into weapons charges.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Aug 25, 2026 9:31 AM EDT

Cummings was taken into custody and is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court. (Jenna Fisher/Patch)

BOSTON, MA — A man is facing multiple charges after Boston Police recovered a loaded handgun early Monday morning during a traffic stop in Dorchester.

Marquise Cummings, 27, of Mattapan, was arrested at approximately 1:46 a.m. near 205 Woodrow Ave. after officers saw a vehicle operating without its headlights illuminated. Officers initiated a traffic stop and spoke with Cummings, who reportedly insisted multiple times that his headlights were on while police observed them to be off.

After officers showed Cummings how to turn on the headlights, he reportedly told police he did not have a driver's license. Officers asked Cummings to get out of the vehicle, but he allegedly refused multiple commands before eventually complying.

Upon getting out of the vehicle, Cummings reportedly shifted his body away from officers and tensed up as police attempted to guide him away from the vehicle. Officers frisked Cummings and allegedly recovered a folding knife from his pocket and a firearm from inside his waistband.

The firearm was determined to be a Sar USA SAR9 handgun loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition, according to police.

Cummings was taken into custody and is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges of unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, and possession of ammunition without an FID card. Cummings was also issued a Massachusetts uniform citation for auto law violations.