A Wilmington man, Luqmaan Khan, has been charged with illegal possession of a machinegun following an incident in Canby Park West on November 24, 2025. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware, officers from the New Castle County Police Department encountered Khan during a property check when they noticed his vehicle parked in the area after hours.
During the stop, officers ordered Khan out of his vehicle after establishing probable cause. Khan reportedly refused and resisted arrest but was ultimately taken into custody. A search of his vehicle revealed a .357 caliber Glock handgun fitted with a microplastic conversion brace kit and loaded with 27 rounds. Officers also found three additional loaded magazines, a loaded Glock 9mm magazine, an armored ballistic plate, and a marble notebook.
The notebook contained handwritten plans describing additional weapons and methods for carrying out attacks while avoiding law enforcement detection. It referenced by name a University of Delaware Police Department member and included diagrams labeled “UD Police Station” detailing building layouts and entry points.
On November 25, authorities executed a search warrant at Khan’s residence in Wilmington. Law enforcement recovered another Glock 19 handgun equipped with an illegal machinegun conversion device (“switch”), a .556 rifle with attachments, eleven more extended magazines, hollow point ammunition, and tactical gear including two ballistic plates.
Khan has been charged via criminal complaint for possessing a machinegun. If convicted, he could face up to ten years in prison. Sentencing would be determined by a federal district court judge based on statutory factors and federal guidelines.
The investigation remains ongoing and involves both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and New Castle County Police Department (NCCPD). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel S. Frey and Kevin P. Pierce, along with Criminal Chief Carly A. Hudson, are prosecuting the case.
“This case is a quintessential example of federal and state law enforcement collaborating to neutralize a grave threat to Delaware before the worst could come to pass. I want to thank our dedicated law enforcement partners at the FBI and the NCCPD for their exceptional work. As always, we are proud to work with them to keep Delaware safe,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Murray.
“I commend the devoted officers with the New Castle County Police Department whose exceptional actions led to Khan’s arrest before anyone was harmed. We are grateful for the coordinated and swift collaboration between partners which resulted in this federal charge. The FBI’s Wilmington Resident Agency is dedicated to protecting the people of Delaware and working daily with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and hold accountable those who seek to commit acts of violence,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul.
“Thanks to the proactive work of these patrol officers, a dangerous threat to our community was stopped before it could escalate into violence. Their professionalism, vigilance, and commitment to public safety embody the values we expect and the courage our residents depend on every day. We also extend our sincere thanks to our federal partners, whose collaboration was instrumental in bringing this incident to a safe and successful conclusion,” said Colonel James J. Leonard III of the New Castle County Police Department.
Officials remind that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
