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IHOP gunman used illegally altered AK-47, sheriff says
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Rick Roach/The Associated Press
A U.S. flag made of carnations rests on Sept. 12 in front of the IHOP restaurant in Carson City where Eduardo Sencion used an assault rifle to kill four people and wound seven others.
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Eduardo Sencion
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU
CARSON CITY -- The gunman who killed four people and then himself at a restaurant on Sept. 6 used a Chinese-made version of an AK-47 assault rifle altered into an illegal automatic weapon, the Carson City sheriff's office said Wednesday.
Sheriff Ken Furlong said his deputies and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were continuing to investigate how the weapon and others ended up in the hands of Eduardo Sencion.
Sencion, 32, of Carson City, fired 60 rounds from the weapon inside and outside of an IHOP restaurant, killing four people and injuring seven before taking his own life. Three of the people killed were Nevada National Guard members.
Sencion had a history of mental problems.
Furlong said the weapon used by Sencion was a Norinco Mak 90, a Chinese version of the Russian AK-47. They learned the weapon was last sold five years ago to an unknown buyer in California. Manufactured as a semi-automatic, the rifle was altered into an automatic weapon by a professional gunsmith, whose identity still is not known. The altered weapon was illegal because it was not registered.
Authorities have been unable to locate any record of the gun since then, but the sheriff said his deputies continue to investigate the source of the weapon alterations and "the identities of those who owned the weapon previous to Sencion."
"According to ATF, it looked like a pretty good job," Carson City Undersheriff Steve Albertsen said of the fully automatic modification.
He acknowledged it will be difficult to track the ownership. Background checks are not required for private-party sales in Nevada, he said.
"We want to know who sold our suspect the gun, but we may not ever know," Albertsen said.
Found in Sencion's van in the IHOP parking lot were two other weapons: a legal Romarm AK-47 semi-automatic rifle and a Glock semiautomatic handgun. Sencion had 450 rounds of unused ammunition in his vehicle.
Sencion's motive for the killing spree, the worst in Carson City history, still has not been determined.
The IHOP, about two miles south of the Capitol, remains closed, and company officials have declined to say whether it ever will be reopened.
Anyone with information about Sencion's weapons can call the sheriff's office at 775-887-2500.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.
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I don't think that it is rocket science to change a semi automatic to full auto. In basic training a fellow was killed when an old M-1 started firing full auto. M-1 carbines could fire full auto. Can't remember exactly (50 years) but I think you just filed the trigger stop down to where it did not catch.
Private citizens should not have dangerous OMG GUNS.Those people who were killed should have used their cell phones and called the Police ------what??---- they did that? -- Oh, OK
A Fast and Furious gun??? We have gun control up here and it does nothing but give the criminals, who will get their firearms anyway and of course don't register them, more firepower than the police or citizens. All the control and stringent reg. process does is block citizens from being able to protect themselves, especially ranchers etc. who wish to have a rifle to protect their stock and families from predators. At present they cannot legally use a rifle. Ridiculous. The crime rate using weapons has not decreased at all since the gun registry was implemented.
Proud Democrat, now that was some pretty funny and clever stuff. I own guns but this still made me laugh. No doubt the humor was lost on several of the R-J regulars
DeltaSigChi4, What guns should be legal?
I am contemplating acquiring a DeltaPigChi-- for self protection of course; I am certain that all you O'banana fans will support my cause. How else can I protect my home from people with AK47s that they purchased from Republican dealers? - M
Proud Democrat...Why would you think anyone would object to any of your ideas. Exactly how will your owning any type of weapon affect my life in anyway? You want to drive to work in a tank, be my guest, just make sure it passes emissions, don't impede traffic, and for God sake, just don't text and drive. While I'm sure you were trying to make a point against average citizen's arming themselves, you in fact proved just the opposite, because no matter what weapons you own, I highly doubt you will suddenly be overwhelmed with the urge to go on a murderous rampage. Do you actually delude yourself into believing that this gunman, who was not swayed by the fact the murder is illegal, would have instead rescued a kitten from the pound, because murder is one thing, but violating some weapons law, well who would do such a thing.
I am contemplating acquiring nuclear weapons -- for self protection of course; I am certain that all you tearepublicans will support my cause. How else can I protect my home from people with AK47s that they purchased from Republican dealers?
- E
Probably got it from Attorney General Eric Holder. Unfortunately, Holder can't recall if he gave it to him or not!
anybody know where I can get a armored personnel carrier...i will have to get to work...i hope no one wants to infringe on my right to keep and bear arms as this is clearly what the framers had in mind....lol