Individual Arrested For Firearms Offenses

SAN JUAN, P.R. – United States Magistrate Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll authorized a criminal complaint against Christopher Quiñones-Prieto charging him with unlawful possession of a machinegun, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to thank the PR Police Department, prosecutors Mario Rivera, Miguel García, and their supervisor Jorge Carrión, from the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, District of Carolina, for their prompt response and efforts during this investigation. The FBI is in charge of the investigation.

According to the information contained in the affidavit, during the evening of August 24, 2019, in Jardines de Canovanas, Canovanas, PR at the intersection of 185/ Autonomía Road and Pepita Albandoz Road, there was a vehicle-to-vehicle shooting. The shootout occurred in front of a local business. Video camera surveillance footage retrieved from the business shows Vehicle 1 driving northbound on 185/ Autonomía Road and Vehicle 2 following close behind it. Vehicle 2 stopped in front of the local business, at which point a male, later identified as Christopher Quiñones-Prieto, got out of Vehicle 2 holding a pistol. Quiñones-Prieto appeared to be under gunfire. Quiñones-Prieto struggled but managed to point his pistol in the direction of where the previous gunfire had come from and discharged his weapon, which was fully automatic.

After the shooting ceased, Quiñones-Prieto was seen limping away, heading north on 185/ Autonomia Road. Later on, he was taken to the Centro Médico emergency room in San Juan, PR, and was treated for a gunshot wound to the right thigh/femur. Quiñones-Prieto was then released under stable condition.

Quiñones-Prieto recorded a video and posted it to his Instagram account. In the video Quiñones-Prieto stated, “Se van a quedar con las ganas cabrones. Los voy a reventar.” (“You’re going to have to wait motherfuckers. I’m going to blow you up.”). While stating the above, Quiñones-Prieto pointed his camera towards his pelvis, which was severely wounded.

This arrest is part of the Trigger Puller Initiative, the Carolina Strike Force, and the FBI.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief, Gang Unit, and Assistant US Attorney Corinne Cordero. If convicted, the defendant could face up to 10 years in prison. A criminal complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.