WORCESTER, MA — At least two teenagers are facing charges following an incident involving multiple illegal firearms in Worcester on Tuesday, police said.
Javiel Delgado, 18, of Worcester, and Salorin Batista, 19, of Fitchburg, are facing several firearms charges after officers recovered multiple weapons. A third male, a juvenile, was arrested for allegedly pushing an officer while attempting to flee, according to the Worcester Police Department.
The incident also left one officer with a shoulder injury. He was taken to a hospital for treatment and later released.
At about 7 p.m., officers observed two males walking along Houghton Street, one of whom appeared to be clutching his waistband. The pair repeatedly looked back toward a marked cruiser, police said.
Officers continued monitoring the individuals and soon located them behind a shed with a third male. When officers approached, all three fled on foot.
Police said Delgado was apprehended after a brief chase. During the pursuit, he allegedly threw a backpack over a fence into a nearby yard where a woman and child were present.
Officers recovered the bag and found a firearm equipped with a machine gun conversion device and a large-capacity magazine inside. Delgado, who is under 21, is not legally permitted to carry a firearm in Massachusetts, police said.
Additional officers arrested Batista nearby. Police said he had also been seen handling a backpack, which was recovered and found to contain two firearms, including one with a machine gun conversion device. Like Delgado, Batista is under 21 and prohibited from carrying a firearm.
The Worcester Police Crime Scene Unit responded to safely process the weapons.
Delgado faces multiple charges, including possession of a machine gun, possession of a large-capacity firearm, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, and carrying a firearm without a license.
Batista is charged with carrying a firearm without a license (two counts), possession of a large-capacity firearm (two counts), carrying a loaded firearm without a license (two counts), and possession of a machine gun.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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