16-year-old charged for allegedly shooting man with 3D-printed gun in Des Moines

A 16-year-old was arrested and charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting a man with a 3D-printed handgun Tuesday morning, police said.

The Des Moines Police Department and the Des Moines Fire Department were dispatched to the 4100 block of Easton Boulevard for a shooting at around 8:35 a.m. Tuesday, police spokesperson Sgt. Paul Parizek said in a news release Wednesday.

A 31-year-old man was found shot and was taken to a hospital, Parizek said. The victim was still in the hospital in serious condition as of Wednesday afternoon.

Officers were given a description of the alleged shooter and found a person that matched it nearby in a car, Parizek said. They took the suspect into custody without incident.

Investigators found that the shooting stemmed from an argument between people that knew each other, Parizek said.

Detectives found two 3D-printed handguns by the scene and the source of those handguns is being investigated, he said.

Police believe the 16-year-old used the 3D-printed guns in the shooting, Parizek said. He was charged in adult court.

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, people generally can make firearms, including 3D-printed weapons, for personal use. However, they cannot manufacture them for sale or distribution without a license and cannot violate the National Firearms Act or other laws. In Iowa, it is illegal for anyone under 21 to have a handgun.

José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 16-year-old arrested for allegedly shooting man with 3D-printed gun