Juveniles riding in Waymo arrested after police find a 'ghost gun' - Los Angeles Times News Home Page California Election 2024 Housing & Homelessness Politics Science & Medicine World & Nation Business Artificial Intelligence Autos Jobs, Labor & Workplace Real Estate Technology & the Internet California California Politics Earthquakes Education Housing & Homelessness L.A. Influential L.A. Politics Mental Health Climate & Environment Climate Change Water & Drought Entertainment & Arts Arts Books Stand-Up Comedy Hollywood Inc. The Envelope (Awards) Movies Music Television Things to Do De Los En Español Food 101 Best Restaurants in L.A. Recipes Image Art & Culture Conversations Drip Index: Event Guides Fashion Shopping Guides Styling Myself Lifestyle Health & Wellness Home Design L.A. Affairs Plants Travel & Experiences Weekend Things to Do in L.A. 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Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here. See more from the L.A. Times in Google Search. Set us as preferred Two young people riding in an autonomous vehicle were arrested in San Francisco after authorities allegedly found them in possession of an illegal “ghost gun.”San Francisco Police Department did not identify the operator of the autonomous vehicle, but a Waymo spokesperson confirmed to The Times that the incident involved one of its cars. The company pulled the car over after detecting a “violation of our terms of service involving a firearm,” the spokesperson said. The company alerted emergency services and “cooperated fully” with San Francisco police. Advertisement The incident took place shortly before 4 a.m. on Sept. 3 in the city’s Richmond District, the Police Department said in a statement Thursday.The department said officers conducted a “high-risk vehicle stop” and detained the two juvenile passengers — a boy and girl. The statement did not identify them further.Officers searched the car and discovered a loaded, AR-style assault rifle, as well as “suspected marijuana and mace spray,” authorities said in the statement. Advertisement Business Waymo wins approval for drastic expansion in Los Angeles, Bay Area regions Waymo announced today it received approval from California regulators to expand its service area across 18 counties, including the cities of San Diego and Sacramento. Aug. 14, 2026 The investigation remains “open and active,” police said. The passengers were taken into custody and to a juvenile hall.San Francisco police did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment Friday. California ‘I feel safer around a Waymo.’ Expansion of autonomous robotaxi service has supporters cheering Your morning catch-up: Waymo is expanding, L.A.’s famed Pershing Square is renamed after Biddy Mason and more big stories. Sept. 5, 2026 This wasn’t the first time Waymo has tattled on alleged troublemakers. In July, Waymo contacted the San Mateo Police Department after two teens were found drinking alcohol and shooting toy guns in the back of a car, authorities said at the time. Waymo’s roots date back to 2009, when it was founded as Google’s self-driving car project. Waymo spun out of Google in 2016, and has since drastically expanded its service footprint. The hat-topped cars are now a fixture in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and even sparked a beeping backlash in Santa Monica.The company this month launched paid service in San Diego, Denver and Tampa, Fla. Last month, it won permission from the California Public Utilities Commission to operate in San Diego, Sacramento and communities in Orange and Riverside counties, among others.The company has occasionally made headlines for bizarre incidents involving its driverless cars. In July, a shirtless man in East Hollywood was recorded standing on top of a Waymo while dismantling the car. In 2025, a man in downtown Los Angeles was taken into custody when he allegedly tried to get behind the wheel of a Waymo and drive off. More to Read Waymo’s noisy Santa Monica charging stations ordered to close overnight — for now July 29, 2026 Multiple people injured in collision involving Waymo near downtown L.A. July 27, 2026 Waymo reports teen riders for bad behavior and delivers them to the police July 7, 2026 Show Comments CaliforniaCrime & CourtsThe LatestArtificial Intelligence Sign up for Essential California The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning. 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Two juveniles were arrested in San Francisco after police discovered an illegal firearm in the possession of the two passengers while riding in a Waymo autonomous vehicle. The incident occurred shortly before 4 a.m. on September 3 in the city’s Richmond District, where officers conducted a high-risk vehicle stop and detained the two young passengers, a boy and a girl. Authorities found a loaded, AR-style assault rifle, along with suspected marijuana and mace spray, inside the vehicle. A Waymo spokesperson confirmed that the incident involved one of their vehicles, stating that the company initiated the stop after detecting a violation of its terms of service concerning a firearm, and the company cooperated fully with the San Francisco police. The investigation into the incident remains open and active, and the juvenile passengers were taken into custody and subsequently transferred to a juvenile hall.

This event highlights the intersection of autonomous vehicle technology, law enforcement responses, and juvenile behavior. Waymo has a history of engaging with law enforcement regarding incidents involving its services, such as notifying the San Mateo Police Department about two teens found drinking alcohol and shooting toy guns in a vehicle in July. Furthermore, the company has faced attention for bizarre incidents involving its driverless cars, including reports in 2025 of individuals attempting to take control of a Waymo and drive away. Beyond this specific incident, Waymo is actively expanding its service footprint, having recently secured approval from California regulators to extend its service across eighteen counties, including San Diego and Sacramento. This expansion reflects the broader growth of the autonomous robotaxi service, which has drawn support from advocates who feel safer utilizing this technology. The ongoing investigation underscores the complex legal and operational challenges associated with incorporating autonomous systems into public spaces and the potential for misuse of these technologies by younger individuals.