In Martinez, California, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has brought forth a 21-count felony complaint against Lawrence Robert Hansen, a 68-year-old Richmond man, for the possession of an extensive collection of illegal firearms, high-capacity magazines, and homemade explosives.
Hansen, who is currently detained, was apprehended on March 17th by the Richmond Police based on an outstanding warrant. His name appears on the Armed and Prohibited Persons System, indicating he is legally barred from owning or possessing firearms.
The charges stem from a series of incidents where Hansen allegedly made violent threats related to firearms to medical staff at a clinic in Walnut Creek over the course of 2022-2023. These threats were reported to the police on September 18th, 2023. In a separate event, Hansen was discovered with a loaded handgun during a medical examination at a Walnut Creek hospital on September 26th, 2023.
Following these incidents and due to the prohibition against Hansen’s possession of firearms, a coordinated search was conducted at his residence in Richmond on January 31, 2024. The search team, which included members from the Contra Costa Anti-Violence Support Effort Task Force, the Bureau of Firearms of the California Department of Justice, and Contra Costa County Probation Officers, discovered a staggering array of weaponry. The haul included 11 machine guns, over 130 handguns, 37 rifles, 60 assault rifles, 7 shotguns, 3000 large capacity magazines, several inert grenades, homemade explosives, incendiary ammunition, and approximately one million rounds of ammunition.
Hansen was arraigned on March 18th and pleaded not guilty. He is being held without bail at the Martinez Detention Facility, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 27th. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to address illegal weapons possession and ensure community safety.
