Waymo Robotaxi Halts, Police Detain Two Teens Carrying Ghost Gun in San Francisco

Waymo’s driverless taxi was compelled to act on a San Francisco street after the self‑driving car stopped its riders and called the police. Officers who responded discovered two teenagers in the rear seat brandishing a loaded AR‑style ghost gun, a weapon built without a serial number that can bypass ordinary background checks.

The police report states that the youths were taken into custody and taken to a nearby juvenile detention center. While the report withheld additional investigative details, it verified that the gun was operable and that no discharge occurred during the incident.

This episode represents an uncommon case of an autonomous vehicle directly engaging law enforcement. Waymo, which runs robotaxis across multiple U.S. cities under a safety‑first approach, explained that the car’s safety system identified the firearm and executed its protocol to stop and notify authorities.

Ghost guns are increasingly troubling law‑enforcement agencies across the country because they evade standard tracing methods. Finding such a weapon inside a public ride‑share car highlights the difficulties municipalities encounter when trying to balance new mobility technologies with public safety.

San Francisco officials have not said whether the episode will trigger a reassessment of autonomous‑vehicle policies or result in fresh rules on passenger screening. Nonetheless, city leaders have previously stressed the need to meld autonomous technology with current safety standards.

Waymo reaffirmed its dedication to passenger safety, pointing out that the car’s sensors and AI spotted the irregularity and responded per its emergency protocols. The firm said it will fully cooperate with investigators and keep improving its detection systems to avert comparable incidents going forward.