5 indicted in armed robbery of Maryland gun shop

Federal officials last week announced the indictment of five Baltimore men who stole 36 firearms from an area gun shop in a brazen 2016 robbery during business hours.

The five indicted— David Wise, aka Rambo and Rampage, age 22; Raymond McCullough, aka Troop, age 33; Reginald Smith, aka Young Loc and Loc, age 24; Tavon Hawkins, aka G and Tay, age 34; and Lerron Sheppard, aka D-Loc, age 23–allegedly conspired to rob Blue Fins Bait, Tackle and Guns in Dundalk, Maryland last August.

According to court documents filed through the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the named defendants– three of whom are felons– conspired to steal a vehicle and rob Blue Fins, then later sell the guns. Arming themselves and planning to restrain the staff, the men stormed the shop on August 5 and took cash, a cell phone, computer, credit cards and as many guns as they could carry.

Among the firearms taken were Charter Arms, Taurus, Ruger and S&W revolvers; Beretta, Colt, Glock, Sig, Grand Power and Accutek pistols; and rifles and rifle receivers made by Sig, Anderson, Spikes Tactical and Remington. After the robbery, the group moved to barter and sell the firearms and it is not known how many, if any, were recovered by investigators.

The Baltimore County Police Department, the FBI’s Baltimore Violent Crimes Task Force, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the robbery, offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of those involved.

“Keeping illegal firearms from hitting the streets of Baltimore is ATF’s number one priority,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board in a statement. “The men and women of the ATF Baltimore Field Division will relentlessly pursue any criminals who attempt to acquire or distribute stolen weapons and we will utilize all of our resources to ensure that they are held accountable for their violent and dangerous actions.”

Each defendant is charged with firearms conspiracy, commercial robbery conspiracy, and using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, facing a maximum of life imprisonment. Wise, McCullough, and Smith also face another 10 years on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Since the robbery though not directly related to it, officials in Baltimore have launched a dedicated “Gun Violence Enforcement Division” in an effort to make more gun crimes stick while moving forward with other measures to get even replica firearms out of the city.

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