A man from Montgomery, Alabama, has been charged with possessing a firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device on the campus of Tuskegee University. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. Jaquez Myrick, aged 25, was arrested on November 10, 2024, for allegedly having a machinegun.
According to court documents and the criminal complaint, law enforcement responded to reports of a mass shooting at a parking lot on Tuskegee University's campus in Tuskegee, Alabama. Upon arrival, officers encountered a large crowd and heard gunfire. Myrick was seen holding a handgun and subsequently detained by one of the officers. An inspection revealed that the handgun had been modified with a machinegun conversion device.
The device in question is often referred to as a "switch" and allows firearms to operate as fully automatic weapons capable of discharging up to 20 rounds per second with one trigger pull. Under federal law, possession of such devices is classified as possession of a machinegun and carries penalties including up to ten years imprisonment and fines reaching $250,000. Myrick appeared in federal court in Montgomery earlier today.
It is important to note that criminal complaints are allegations of crime; defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
Multiple agencies are involved in investigating this case: the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Tuskegee University Police Department, City of Tuskegee Police Department, Macon County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Fifth Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, and Alabama Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara S. Ratz from the Middle District of Alabama is leading the prosecution.
Authorities have requested public assistance in their investigation. Individuals with information can submit tips via 1-800-CALL-FBI or upload digital files related to the incident online at fbi.gov/tuskegeeshooting24.