Looking for news story - iPhone Guns

[RicInOR]

There is a story making the rounds - I am looking for some source material

A NYC LEO ( could be transit cop ) claims an officer was shot thru the lens of an iphone.

I doubt that is true - the iPhones are just too thin. However, the length or width could be sufficient for a cartridge and firing mechanism - even if it has a 0 length barrel (just shot from the chamber)

"people are using iPhones as guns."
"because people are using iPhones as guns and shooting cops through the camera lens"
"cop and he said that there were incidents, specifically in uptown Manhattan where a kid shot a cop with his iPhone. Straight face. Very serious.""

So, other than "proof of concept" stories, if anyone has an actual reported case of one being used, NY or otherwise, please share.
And the searches are challenging because Shot is also a photography term and the iPhone is a fine camera.
And, there are lots of people who have wanted to, or actually shot their phones.

TIA

Read More

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

This? http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/cellgun.asp

 

[ZigZagZeke]

SNOPES:

Origins: The above-quoted "cell phone gun" warning dates from 2001 and came accompanied by a <broken link removed> which

purportedly showed one such gun in action. However, the video clip (of unknown provenance) doesn't seem to match the one described in the text of the message, nor does it provide visual proof that the object shown is actually firing bullets.

The text of the warning was an excerpt from a longer article (also of unknown provenance) which was posted on the South African <broken link removed> web site. Other news outlets (such as The Register and the New York Daily News) have also run stories about guns disguised as cell phones that echo the details given in the message above.

Do "cell phone guns" represent an alarming turn in concealed weaponry technology? Probably not, as a customs spokesman maintained that"there's no indication that these are being mass-produced," and a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms noted:
Though the novelty of cell-phone guns is interesting, ATF spokesman John D'Angelo says the idea of concealing firearms in common devices is not new. "Disguised weapons have been around forever. We've seen guns in the form of canes, pens, beepers. As technology progresses and becomes more prevalent, disguised weapons will change to mirror that."

So Snopes rates this as TRUE? Based on what? That it's possible to produce a gun that looks like a cell phone? Almost anything is POSSIBLE.

Now some cop will use this to justify blowing away a citizen reaching for his cell phone, or better yet, recording police activity on the street. This story from 2001 is a godsend for cops who don't want to be recorded in the course of their duties.

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

Or a flashlight

 

[Hook686]

Back in the 50's car radio antennas were hollow, and just the right size for a .22 lr.

 

[ZigZagZeke]

Back in the 50's car radio antennas were hollow, and just the right size for a .22 lr.

They were called "zip guns".

 

[Frankenrifle]

Or a flashlight

Okay, if that light works then I want one!

 

[oknow]

You misunderstood the story. The cop had the iPhone up about to take a picture and somebody shot at the cop and it hit the lens and went through then hit the cop