Teen Busted With Loaded Glock After Wild Foot Chase in Buffalo

An 18-year-old from Buffalo was taken down by State Police after fleeing a traffic stop with a loaded handgun tucked in his waistband, raising fresh questions about youth gun access even as New York celebrates historic drops in gun violence.

On the evening of June 9, 2026, New York State Police Troop A Community Stabilization Unit pulled over a vehicle near Buffalo after troopers spotted something they couldn’t ignore: four males crammed in the backseat without seatbelts, and two of them pointing what appeared to be firearms out the windows at passing cars. What followed was a foot chase that ended with an 18-year-old under arrest and a loaded Glock 43X handgun with a high-capacity magazine off the streets.

The suspect, Kacuol I. Chol of Buffalo, now faces a laundry list of charges including Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd and 3rd degrees, Obstructing Governmental Administration, Resisting Arrest, and Menacing in the 2nd Degree with a weapon, according to the New York State Police press release. He was arraigned at the Buffalo lockup.

What Happened on the Streets of Buffalo

Troop A troopers were on patrol when they observed the vehicle in question. The seatbelt violation was the entry point, but the men pointing what appeared to be firearms at other motorists escalated the situation immediately. When troopers initiated the stop, Chol, one of the backseat passengers who was not wearing a seatbelt, bolted.

He didn’t get far.

After a foot pursuit, troopers apprehended Chol. What they found was alarming: a loaded Glock 43X, a compact semi-automatic handgun, fitted with a high-capacity magazine, stuffed in his waistband. He was 18 years old.

Chol was taken to State Police barracks in Buffalo for processing before being transferred for arraignment.

A Pattern That Won’t Quit

This arrest does not stand alone. Buffalo has seen a wave of youth-involved weapons incidents in 2026. In April, a 17-year-old was arrested twice in a single month on felony gun charges, including attempting to bring a 9mm handgun into Buffalo Public School 197, according to Buffalo Today.

Community activist Sam Radford summed up the frustration many feel:

“All of this is a cause for concern. And, what does a 17-year-old need with a handgun anyways?”

That question hangs in the air just as loudly for an 18-year-old caught pointing what could be a gun at strangers from a moving vehicle.

The Good News and the Stubborn Reality

Here’s the complicated truth: New York is actually winning the war against gun violence by the numbers.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced in April 2026 that shooting incidents among communities participating in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative dropped 65 percent compared to 2021. The number of shooting victims fell 66 percent. Gun deaths dropped 74 percent.

Buffalo itself reached a historic 20-year low in gun violence. Through March 2026, shooting incidents with injury in Buffalo were down 84 percent compared to 2021. Five cities, including Utica, reported zero shooting incidents in the first quarter of 2026.

“Public safety is my top priority, and these latest numbers show that our investments in law enforcement, community-based prevention programs and proven anti-gun violence strategies are continuing to save lives,” said Governor Hochul.

That’s a real win, and it matters deeply for the upstate New York region. Utica, which sits at the heart of the Mohawk Valley, has long fought to shed a reputation tied to crime and poverty. Zero shooting incidents in Q1 2026 is not a small thing. It reflects years of investment in street outreach, youth programs, and targeted policing. But one foot chase in Buffalo with a teenager carrying a loaded Glock is a reminder of how fragile progress can be.

High-Capacity Magazines: The Detail That Matters

The Glock 43X is a compact, concealable handgun. Paired with a high-capacity magazine, it becomes significantly more dangerous, capable of firing more rounds without reloading. New York law restricts magazines to 10 rounds, making the high-capacity magazine Chol allegedly carried an additional felony layer on top of his other charges.

State lawmakers and Governor Hochul have continued pushing first-in-the-nation legislation targeting illegal 3D-printed firearms and DIY machine gun conversion devices. But illegal guns keep finding their way to young people. The pipeline is real, even if it is shrinking.

Why This Matters to Upstate New York

For communities from Buffalo to Utica to Syracuse, every gun arrest is both a data point and a human story. The GIVE initiative, which includes Utica as a Tier I participant focused on reducing shootings and shooting fatalities, is proof that sustained investment in both law enforcement and community-based programs works.

But programs only work if young people aren’t arming themselves before they’re old enough to rent a car. The Chol arrest highlights what remains the hardest part of the problem: how do teenagers and young adults gain access to loaded firearms with high-capacity magazines?

That’s the question lawmakers, law enforcement, and community leaders need to keep asking loudly.

What Comes Next

Chol was arraigned in Buffalo and faces multiple felony charges. The outcome of his case will move through Erie County’s courts in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, State Police Troop A’s Community Stabilization Unit, the same team that made this arrest, continues its mission to proactively address gun violence in Western New York. The unit’s work, combined with GIVE-funded initiatives, represents the kind of layered response that’s actually moving the needle statewide.

Progress is real. But so is the loaded gun found on an 18-year-old running from police.

The work is not done.

Reported by David LaGuerre for the Utica Phoenix