Teenagers detained after Norfolk police allegedly find stolen gun, alcohol in vehicle

NORFOLK, Neb. (KOLN) - Several teenagers were detained and cited after Norfolk police allegedly found a stolen handgun and alcohol in a vehicle early Sunday morning. Around 3:25 a.m., officers with the Norfolk Police Division responded to a report of suspicious individuals in the area of Grace Lutheran Church. Upon arrival, officers contacted a group of teenagers, some inside a vehicle and others nearby. All individuals were detained due to curfew violations, police said. During the investigation, officers detected the smell of alcohol coming from within the vehicle, according to Norfolk police. With consent to search the vehicle, officers said they located a small amount of alcohol and a handgun concealed under the driver's seat. Initially, no individual claimed ownership of the firearm, according to police. Several of the teenagers displayed signs of alcohol consumption, officers said. Through further investigation, Norfolk police determined that one teenager had been in possession of the firearm prior to officers arriving, the division said. That individual was taken into custody and later transported to the Juvenile Detention Center following an intake assessment, according to police. Officers said the remaining teenagers were cited for curfew violations and, where applicable, minor in possession of alcohol. They were then released to their parents. During a follow-up investigation, officers located a magazine containing ammunition near the church, police said. The firearm recovered at the scene was confirmed to have been reported stolen in a prior Norfolk Police Division case, according to officers. This case remains under investigation, and additional charges may be considered.