Massive Weapons Cache, Including Guns, Machetes & Tasers Found Inside Queens Apartment
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD discovered a large cache of weapons inside the home of a Queens man Friday.
Among the items that police recovered included more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition, 32 machetes and 8 brass knuckles along with a pair of firearms.
Authorities said they received reports of shots being fired into the air on Sunday at 20-11 Shore Blvd. in Astoria.
Later in the week, cops said, the suspect, 53-year-old Michael Millazzo, was identified on a surveillance video.
Found inside the first-floor apartment were a .40 caliber Glock firearm, a 9mm firearm, 20 .40 caliber magazines, 6 high-capacity rifle magazines, 10,537 rounds of ammunition, 32 machetes, 60 knives of various sizes, 16 air pistols, 1 air rifle, 7 tasers, 8 brass knuckles, 6 batons, 3 expandable batons and 10 handcuffs.
Authorities were able to obtain a search warrant following an investigation led by Sgt. Joseph Corideo and members of the 114th Precinct.
Corideo told 1010 WINS that Millazzo was sleeping when authorities exercised the warrant, but didn't put up a physical fight when confronted by police.
"You could hear him, he was shaking when they went in -- normal stuff like 'Why you guys here? What are you doing,'" Corideo said.
Police said Millazzo did not have a license to own a firearm in New York City.
Police said they are not looking at the cache as being terrorism-related. In fact, Corideo said while the investigation is ongoing, it appears the suspect may have been a gun enthusiast.
"Originally in the beginning part of my investigation...I thought he might be a bad person, but you know it seems to me -- again it's very early on in the investigation -- but it seems like he's really a gun buff. He's just a guy who loves guns and has an affinity for guns and knives," Corideo said.
Corideo, however, said the suspect's collection of BB guns, airguns and knives was a "little bizarre" and "a little strange."
Police said that Millazzo does have one prior arrest, but didn't specify what it was for.
Millazzo has been charged with criminal use of a firearm and reckless endangerment among other charges.
