Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
LI Guy's 15 Grenades, 120 Guns, Explosives Just An "Out-Of-Control Hobby"
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 8, 2012
Modified Mar 8, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 8, 2012
Modified Mar 8, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
While Nassau County authorities are calling Marc Ringel a "potential madman" after cops found, oh, an arsenal ("Fifteen improvised grenades, approximately 100 handguns, 20 long guns, approximately 50 pounds of ingredients that could be used to make explosives. There was enough explosive material in there to level that house and possible the entire block") in his parents' Woodmere home, his lawyer has a perfectly reasonable explanation for the cache of weapons: "This is a hobby that got out of control."
In addition to the weapons, authorities also found 250 marijuana plants (about 50 pounds of them). But the guns and explosives were more worrisome to authorities; according to Newsday, "A wire ran from the house to a backyard pit that police said appeared to have been used to test explosives"—there were 50 pounds of explosives (fuel oil, peroxide, hexamine and sodium nitrate).
Ringel's attorney Saul Bienenfeld claimed that 99% of the weapons (many of which were antiques) were bought on eBay and the FBI also didn't believe that there was any terrorism connected to the case.
Ringel, 53, remains in custody. Authorities are seeing whether Ringel's parents, who had been in Florida, had any idea of the arsenal in their home.
Tagged
antiques
arsenal
ebay
explosives
guns
long island
marc ringel
nassau county
pot
woodmere
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
New apartments are coming and there’s nothing these 12 neighborhoods can do to stop it
The Mamdani administration released a list of 12 community districts subject to a “fast-track” housing approval process first initiated by his predecessor.
By
David Brand
Published Oct 1, 2026 at 12:05 a.m. ET
Man fatally stabbed on J train in Queens, NYPD says
A 59-year-old man was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said a person of interest was in custody.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Man fatally stabbed on J train in Queens, NYPD says
A 59-year-old man was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said a person of interest was in custody.
By
Giulia Heyward
NYC delivery workers fear e-bike bills would bring more police stops, racial profiling
By
Carol Chen
Fake QR codes on Manhattan parking meters lead to identity theft charges
By
Charles Lane
Fare hike for NYC Ferry going into effect next month
By
Elizabeth Kim
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .