Pennsylvania deputy accused of selling guns, including two used in school shooting
PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office deputy is facing federal charges after prosecutors say he sold guns illegally, including two that were used in a recent shooting at a high school.
The Department of Justice announced charges against Samir Ahmad in a news release, and said Ahmad was working as a deputy when he sold two semi-automatic pistols and ammunition to a confidential informant.
“The idea of a sworn public servant so blatantly undermining public safety is reprehensible,” said Jacqueline Maguire, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia division.
According to the DOJ, the informant told Ahmad that he was in the United States illegally and could be deported if he was caught with a gun, to which Ahmad responded, “You don’t got to worry about none of that.” Prosecutors said that Ahmad made $3,000 from the sale of the guns.
“As alleged, Samir Ahmad abused his authority — to the greatest extent possible — as a sworn law enforcement officer,” said United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. “The defendant was allegedly illegally selling firearms on the street to at least one person who was not permitted to possess them, adding fuel to the already-incendiary fire of deadly gun violence in the city of Philadelphia.”
According to court documents obtained by WTXF, both of the guns sold were traced by police and found to have been used in a shooting that killed a 14-year-old boy and injured four others.
Nicholas Elizalde was killed as he was leaving a junior varsity football scrimmage in Sept., as we reported at the time. The other victims, 3 14-year-olds, a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old, are members of the Roxborough High School Football team.
Teenager killed, 4 others hurt by shooting after high school football scrimmage
Ahmed was hired by the sheriff’s office in February 2018 and was fired after his arrest by federal agents on Oct. 19, KYW reported.
If convicted, Ahmad faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
