More than 70 guns stolen from Statesville shop; 6 charged in connection with robbery

STATESVILLE, N.C. — Police said three more people, now six total, are facing charges after more than 70 guns were stolen from a pawn shop in Statesville during storms earlier this week.

Da'Monte Morrison, Treyvon Turner and Dakura Rickett are facing charges for felony breaking and entering and two counts of larceny of a firearm.

Officials have recovered more ammunition and other items stolen from the shop, but no additional guns have been recovered.

Friday, a 15-year-old was charged with felony breaking and entering and felony larceny of a firearm. Demaja Watts, 20, has outstanding warrants for one count of felony breaking and entering and two counts of larceny of a firearm. Shanita Howell, 19, was charged with accessory after the fact.

After the storms blew over, Statesville police started checking for damage and once they got to Bulls Eye Pawn Shop, they realized someone had broken into the store.

Authorities said suspects stole about 73 handguns, including five rifles. Investigators from the State Bureau of Investigations and the ATF worked through the night and so far, recovered five rifles, 12 handguns and a lot of ammunition.

Police said the suspects pried open the back door sometime between 1:30 and 4 a.m. Thursday. There is an inner security door, bars to protect the windows and front door and a camera system, but officials believe it wasn't working due to the power outage.

Officials said the stolen guns were in glass cases in the pawnshop.

"We think that it's more than one person because 60 guns is a lot for one person to carry," Addison said. "The suspects did know that and took advantage of that."

Residents told Channel 9 they think it is shameful for the suspects to use the storms to commit this crime.

"It's sad with all the violence going on in the world, needs to be more God in it and less violence," Kenneth Redmond said.

"That is very troubling for this community and all adjacent communities because we don't know where those guns may go," Addison said. "It does pose a threat, those guns getting into anyone's hands because now they're illegal, they're stolen."

Authorities said they are anticipating more charges and suspects as they continue their investigation.

The remaining firearms will be entered into a national database using the serial numbers on them. Police will be flagged if the weapons pop up in any crimes across the country.

Cox Media Group