Two rocket launcher tubes and a practice grenade were found in a dumpster near a school in Southern California earlier this week, officials said.
Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call Wednesday that military ordnance was found in a residence’s dumpster less than a mile from Liberty High School in Winchester, California.
Two empty anti-tank AT4 rocket launcher tubes made for one-time use and a practice grenade that was split in half were discovered in the dumpster, officials from the sheriff’s department said. The sheriff’s Hazard Device Team collected the items.
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“Although the launcher tubes are illegal to possess, they were not a safety hazard, and there was no threat to the community,” the department told National Public Radio. “This incident was not an unusual occurrence, as we routinely find and seize inert military ordnance.”
Rocket launchers and grenades were rendered illegal in California after they were deemed “destructive devices” in the National Firearms Act. However, proving ownership and knowledge of wrongdoing can be challenging.
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Possession of the devices could be considered either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the criminal history of the owner. As a misdemeanor, possessing a destructive device carries a sentence of up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $1,000. As a felony, a person could face three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
No suspects have been arrested in connection with the devices.
