A criminal record: Teens increasingly use social media to buy, brag about guns and crimes

Prosecutors said Wells was trying to meet up with someone he messaged on Instagram.

Social media as a free-for-all weapons store is becoming more common, according to Durham police and Durham-based defense attorney Daniel Meier.

“Something was set up on either Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok or whatever,” Meier said. “It’s incredibly prevalent right now.”

Meier said he has represented too many clients to count who were charged with serious crimes committed with guns they bought online.

“I’ve represented several homicides and shootings where the firearm was originally acquired on social media,” Meier said.

Meier said his office does not represent the actual sale or purchase of guns, but how the guns are used in crimes.

WRAL News asked Meier how the cases turn out for the defendants he’s represented.

“Usually, not good because one of the problems with using social media and using the internet to set these things up is you’re creating a record of it,” Meier said.

It’s a trend Durham police have noticed as well.

“If you are purchasing a handgun on Instagram, for example, we know that is not the legal way to actually purchase a handgun,” said Durham police Lt. Quincey Tait.

Tait works with the Durham Police Public Affairs Unit. She used to be a homicide investigator.

Tait said the digital records are helpful in their investigations and that many people post incriminating things on social media. However, she said investigators must have a search warrant to access someone’s the private messages sent in person's social media accounts.

Meier echoed Tait’s sentiment.

“I think what stands out to me is just how open some of these people are,” Tait said. “You will go back through these cases, and you see these young kids and stuff posing with their guns and extended magazines and money.”

Meier also said he’s seen teens post a news story about a drive-by shooting and say, “That was us.”

Tait said she also notices younger people posting incriminating content.

“I don’t think they realize the damage that they’re doing to themselves when they’re using social media, which is unfortunate,” Tait said. “It really is unfortunate. It’s sad to see.”

Meier believes the uptick in social media as a gun sales platform took off during the pandemic.

“Because that’s when everyone got much more used to communicating via social media,” Meier said.

Police hope Wells’ case serves as a cautionary tale to parents.

“I think this is a good opportunity to raise awareness in the community, getting stories like this out there, especially to the minors, and for parents out there whose children have cellphone,” Tait said. “I would definitely say have access to your child’s phone. Look at their phone, see who they’re talking to.”