Public Safety
Menifee police announce seizure of homemade .50-caliber rifle
Menifee police said officers recovered a functional homemade .50 BMG rifle and ammunition during a recent call for service.
The Menifee Police Department announced the seizure Tuesday. The agency said a hazardous-device team helped examine and clear the unusually constructed firearm before an unidentified person was booked.
Police did not disclose the date or location of the call in the cited public reports. They also did not identify the person who was booked.
Agency: Menifee Police Department
Weapon: Police-described homemade .50 BMG rifle
Assistance: Riverside County Sheriff’s Hazardous Device Team
Status: An unidentified person was booked; the allegations have not been proven in court
Police cite missing safety components
The department said the rifle was fully functional but lacked standard safety components, creating a risk to the person handling it. Police reported finding several rounds of .50 BMG ammunition with the weapon.
Limited case details released
Police said the person was legally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition and was booked on multiple charges. The department did not state the specific charges in the cited reports. A booking is an allegation, not a conviction.
Sources: Menifee Police Department — October 13, 2026 → · CBS Los Angeles — October 14, 2026 →