Crime & Safety
Rex Heuermann Illegally Possessed 51 Guns In LI Home: DA
The Nassau County District Attorney's Office is launching an investigation into Heuermann's alleged illegal gun possessions.
LONG ISLAND, NY — Nassau County launched its own investigation into accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex A. Heuermann, 60, after Suffolk prosecutors said they believe he possessed more than 50 of unregistered handguns and assault weapons during the July search of his Massapequa Park home.
According to a new court filing, at least 26 unregistered handguns, 15 unregistered assault weapons and 10 high-capacity magazines appear to have been possessed in the Heuermann's home in violation of state firearms laws.
"Several of the firearms seized were apparently illegally possessed," Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Lawrence Opisso wrote in the motion filed Tuesday before state Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro.
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The Nassau County District Attorney's Office's Narcotics, Firearms and Guns Bureau launched its investigation Aug. 4.
More than 200 guns were found locked in a vault in the basement of Heuermann's Massapequa Park home, during law enforcement's search for evidence.
Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The 12-day search started on July 14 — the same day Heuermann was indicted on three counts of first-degree murder charges and three counts of second-degree murder charges in the deaths of sex workers Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, whose remains were found along Ocean Parkway in 2010.
On Sept. 15, Suffolk investigators indicated an intent to eventually transfer the weapons to Nassau County police when they filed their initial search warrant application July 13, the day he was arrested, Newsday reported.
On Sept. 15, 2023, the Office of the Suffolk County District Attorney sought an order from the Supreme Court Suffolk County authorizing the delivery of "any firearms, magazines, cases, attachments, ammunition, bullet fragments, and shell casings," for further analysis and investigation.
But Heuermann filed court papers on Sept. 21 opposing Suffolk's plan to turn over the more than 28 firearms seized from his home.
His defense team instead urged the court to allow the weapons to be sold to benefit his financially struggling family, Newsday reported.
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