Cache Of Weapons Found In Dallas Apartment

Authorities tell us the tenant travels to the Middle East frequently and just returned from there Wednesday morning.

The father says his son is an avid gun collector, a member of the National Rifle Association and that he's never been out of the county.

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FIRST REPORTED ON CBS11TV.COM
Jul 18, 2007 8:38 pm US/Central
J.D. Miles Reporting
(CBS 11 News) DALLAS Federal sources tell CBS 11 News that law enforcement officers have confiscated a large cache of weapons found in an apartment near the federal building in downtown Dallas.

Sources say a maintenance man entered the apartment in the 300 block of North Akard to work on some plumbing. Once inside, authorities say, the man found the weapons. He took pictures of them with his cell phone and showed them to police. Police are still taking inventory of all the weapons seized. Among those discovered were two AK-47 rifles, an Uzi 9 millimeter submachine gun, a TEC-9 submachine gun, a 40 millimeter ordnance launcher, a handheld ordnance launcher, and about 500 rounds of ammunition.

The tenant left during the police search and hasn't been seen since. Police seized the weapons even though they say they may have been obtained legally.

Suspected child pornography was also found in the apartment, which could lead to criminal charges.

Authorities tell us the tenant travels to the Middle East frequently and just returned from there Wednesday morning.

That information and the amount of weapons found lead to the involvement of the North Texas Terrorism Task Force. However, authorities say there is no reason to suspect terrorism as a motive.

Late Wednesday evening, a man claiming to be the father of the tenant called CBS 11 and said his son has nothing to do with anything dubious. The father says his son is an avid gun collector, a member of the National Rifle Association and that he's never been out of the county.

Stay with CBS 11 News for the latest developments.

http://cbs11tv.com/topstories/local_story_199190248.html