A New York City artist notorious for painting with human blood was arrested after police were called to his Staten Island home after receiving a report of a drug overdose and unregistered guns hidden inside, police said.
Police were first called to a home on Wood Avenue for a report of an unconscious person, where they found the suspect, Vincent Castiglia, 42, a well-known tattoo and blood artist with thousands of followers on social media, a law enforcement source told The Washington Post.
Sources said police were called to the scene while the maverick artist was receiving first aid after receiving a report that a firearm had been found in Castiglia's bedroom.
Police said they found a .380-caliber Smith & Wesson EZ Hang gun with one round in the chamber and seven rounds in the magazine on his bedpost Sunday morning and executed a search warrant on Monday.
During the search, police seized additional firearms and ammunition, including a 12-gauge Mossberg shotgun with six shells in the magazine, that were hidden in a closet in Castile's bedroom, according to a police source.
A .22-caliber Kel-Tec pistol with a high-capacity magazine was also seized, police sources said.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7TBRd6OSDL/
Police also found a loaded .32-caliber Sea Camp handgun in a vest in the bedroom, according to a police source.
The NYPD praised the work of the officers involved. Write on X“An overdose investigation led to a search warrant being executed and three firearms and a large amount of ammunition being seized from the city. Another great job by the members of the 123rd!”
Castiglia told police he bought and registered the Kel-Tec handgun at a shooting range in Florida, but he did not have a firearms permit in New York City, officials added.
He was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Castiglia is being held on Rikers Island with bail set at $100,000 or $20,000 cash.
He is due back in St George's Criminal Court on Friday.
