Weapons charges withdrawn against suspect who died

PICTURE BUTTE MAN WAS ACCUSED OF MAKING GUN PARTS WITH A 3D PRINTER

Charges against a southern Alberta man accused of using a 3D printer to unlawfully make gun parts were withdrawn Thursday after a judge was told the accused had died.

During a brief hearing in Lethbridge provincial court, Crown Prosecutor Bruce Ainscough said police had just informed him that Daniel Michael Forsyth of Picture Butte had died only the previous night.

Forsyth, 53, was arrested in August and charged with offering to traffic firearms, manufacturing a restricted firearm, manufacturing a nonrestricted firearm, manufacturing a prohibited device, possession of firearms for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a prohibited device for the purpose of trafficking, unauthorized possession of a nonrestricted firearm, unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm, unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon, unauthorized possession of a prohibited device, and possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order.

An investigation by ALERT Lethbridge’s organized crime team and the RCMP’s National Weapons Enforcement Support Team determined a man was manufacturing guns, primarily using 3D printers. Police found in his home multiple 3D printers, along with an assortment of manufactured firearm parts, including pistol lower frames, an assault rifle receiver and frame, a bump stock for converting a semi-automatic firearm to fully automatic, and silencers.

Police seized the items and sent them to the RCMP Forensic Science and Identification Services lab for examination and ballistics testing, which determined the parts were functional.

ALERT reported this may be the first time in Alberta that charges have been laid in relation to the 3D-printing of firearms.

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