13-year-old gang member arrested in Porterville on gun charges, police say

PORTERVILLE, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – A 13-year-old gang member from Visalia was arrested on multiple gun charges on Saturday afternoon, according to the Porterville Police Department.

Officers say they were called to a home on the 200 block of South Ohio Street around 3:45 p.m. to respond to a possible theft from a vacant house.

Officials say officers made contact with a juvenile whom they found to be carrying a concealed, loaded handgun.

Officers also found two other loaded guns, a short-barreled semi-automatic assault rifle, and several large-capacity magazines all discarded nearby.

According to Porterville police, over 100 marijuana plants were also found growing in the home.

Police say the juvenile was taken into custody and booked at the Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility.

Officials say the juvenile was charged with possession of a handgun, possession of ammunition, possession of a privately manufactured firearm (Ghost Gun), possession of a loaded firearm by a gang member, and possession of a large-capacity magazine.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or any other criminal street gang activity is encouraged to contact the Porterville Police Department at (559) 782-7400 or through the departmental Facebook or Instagram page.

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