Man Arrested After Trying To Return Pipe Bomb At Gun Buyback

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A man was arrested during the city's sixth gun buyback event over the weekend after showing up at a drop-off location with a homemade pipe bomb.

KNX1070's Claudia Peschiutta reports that the man wanted to turn in the explosive.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said the man "told the officers in the line that he had spoken to God that day, and God no longer wanted him to use that bomb to blow up the Hollywood sign, now he wanted him to turn it in."

"This is not a pipe bomb buyback; this is a gun buyback," Beck said. "Pipe bombs are illegal to possess, illegal to manufacture."

Police said they were able to safely detonate the device.

According to officials, close to 1,200 firearms were turned in at the city's gun buyback, among them mostly handguns, rifles and shotguns. Forty-nine assault weapons were also returned.

"Some of the assault weapons that were collected, these are weapons of war," said Beck.

Among the weapons turned in were "a couple AK-47s" and an antique "Tommy Gun"-style weapon, according to Police Chief Beck.

"You need one of those to defend your bedroom?" Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said of the weapon. "I mean, come on."

"Each gun that gets off the street represents one less opportunity for tragedy, one less weapon that can lead to the loss of life," Villaraigosa said.