Somerville Police detective Paul Duffy examines the hidden gun ~Photos by William Tauro

By William Tauro

The
Somerville News delivery van was sent to Pat's Auto Body for a
scheduled maintenance tune up Thursday when the mechanic making the
repairs made a surprising discovery. Upon removal of the compartment
engine cover he found a loaded 9 millimeter hand gun and a full box of
ammunition (hollow point bullets). Apparently the inner engine
compartment cover had not been removed by the van's owners at all since
the van was purchased more than two years ago. Usually just the hood
had to be opened to check the oil and other fluids when repairs were
needed. Somerville Police detective Paul Duffy shortly arrived on scene
and placed the weapon in the custody of the police department, who is
now looking for the gun's owner.