Ukrainian gymnast caught in Midtown with loaded AK-47, shotguns and ammo ordered to take mental health evaluation
The Ukrainian-born gymnast charged with illegally carrying a small arsenal in the trunk of his black BMW in Manhattan will undergo a psychiatric evaluation before his criminal case proceeds to court.
Police nabbed Yevgen Buchkovskiy, 44, of Houston, after a passerby saw him on Thursday loading a magazine into a Kalashnikov outside his black late-model luxury car and stowing it in the trunk of the vehicle, which was parked on Park Ave. and E. 54th St. in Midtown.
He admitted to having the gun, which is licensed in his home state but not in New York City.
After getting a search warrant, cops discovered two 12-gauge shotguns, loaded 30-round extended clips and a knife.
A man who did not give his name but identified himself as the gymnast’s brother said that Buchkoskiy has been hospitalized for mental illness three times since February
“He doesn’t understand what he’s doing. When he is taking the pills he is fine; he just stops taking them,” the brother previously told the Daily News. “He hears voices.”
Buchkovskiy drove to Washington, D.C., and then New York City despite the urging of his family to return home.
“He changed cars three times,” the sibling said. “We knew he had the guns and we asked him to return them.”
Police said there was no indication that Buchkovskiy planned to use the guns in the city or had any harmful intent.
Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Lauren Brotherton cited video surveillance footage of Buchkovskiy putting the gun in his car and the fact that he lives in Texas as the reason for requesting he be held behind bars, which the judge honored, setting bail at $100,000 cash.
Legal Aid lawyer Arthur Mendola declined to comment.
