Authorities Think Tsarnaev's Friend May Have Supplied Gun Used to Kill MIT Officer

Federal prosecutors believe a Boston-area man, arrested this week on drug charges, possessed a handgun that the Boston Marathon bombing suspects are thought to have used to kill a university police officer, the man's lawyer said on Thursday.

by Staff

July 24, 2014

Authorities Think Tsarnaev's Friend May Have Supplied Gun Used to Kill MIT Officer — Officer Sean Collier of the MIT Police Department was shot and killed three days after the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing. (Photo: MIT PD)

1 min to read

Stephen Silva, a high school friend of bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was arrested Tuesday and charged with distributing heroin, as well as possessing a Ruger P95 9mm pistol, which had had its serial number filed off in 2013 before the marathon bombing, according to court records.

The Ruger is the same sort of weapon that prosecutors contend Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, used to kill Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer Sean Collier on April 18, 2013, three days after the bombing that killed three people and injured more than 260.

Prosecutors have not publicly confirmed that the weapon Silva is charged with possessing was the same one recovered after a gun battle with the Tsarnaev brothers, hours after they are accused of killing Collier, Reuters reports.

Topics:officer down Bombings Campus Police Special Units Patrol

More Patrol

Woman kneeling with a Bloodhound in front of a white pickup truck.

Patrol•March 1, 2026

K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons

Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.

Man in a blue blazer lifting his shirt to reveal a concealed handgun in a waistband holster while standing outdoors.

Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty

What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.

Patrol•by Wayne Parham•February 25, 2026

Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup

In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.

Person in protective CMRN suit and breathing gear.

Patrol•February 18, 2026

Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit

With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.

Sky background with logos for Versatern and Aloft

Patrol•February 18, 2026

Versaterm Acquires Aloft to Unlock a New Era of Drones for Public Safety

Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.

Patrol•February 11, 2026

Versaterm Launches Innovation Summit for Public Safety Drone Operations

The two-day DroneSense Innovation Summit by Versaterm will bring together public safety and industry experts to define best practices for scaling drone operations.

Patrol•by Wayne Parham•February 11, 2026

What Makes a Good LE Boot?

Learn what makes a boot good for police officers as POLICE visits with Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, who explains the features of boots and why each is needed in an LE boot.

Patrol•February 4, 2026

Folds of Honor Opens Scholarship Application for Children and Spouses of Fallen or Disabled Service Members and First Responders

The application period for the Folds of Honor scholarship program is now open through the end of March. Scholarships support students from early education through postsecondary studies, easing the financial burden for families who have given so much in service to others.

Patrol•February 4, 2026

Team Wendy Now on GovX: Faster Verification and Discount Access for Eligible Professionals

With GovX verification now integrated directly into the Team Wendy checkout experience, eligible customers can confirm their status in just a few clicks and have the discount applied automatically.

Patrol•January 28, 2026

5.11 Debuts 2026 Footwear & Apparel at SHOT Show

5.11 showcased new apparel and footwear products during SHOT Show 2026, including new color options for the A/T Boa Lite Mid Boot and the Founder’s Jacket.

View All →