Greenville – Delaware State Police, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), and Wilmington Police Department have arrested five teens involved in the burglary and theft of 27 handguns from a Greenville area sporting good store.
The investigation began Friday, July 22, 2016, at approximately 1:40 a.m., after four unknown male suspects were observed smashing the glass to the front door of the Artemus Outfitters, located at 4021 Kennett Pike, Greenville. The suspects then entered the business and proceeded to remove 27 assorted handguns from display before exiting the store and fleeing in an unknown direction. Although no photos were released, the incident was captured on surveillance cameras which was helpful in the detectives conducting their investigation into the successful apprehension of the teens.
On Saturday July 23, 2016, Wilmington PD responded to a shooting in the 3500 block of North Church Street within their jurisdiction. Through their investigation into this incident, four stolen firearms were recovered and connected to the sporting good store burglary. The victim of the shooting a 17 year old male from Newark, would later be implicated in the burglary through the joint investigation.
Through further investigative measures, detectives were able to link the victim and four others, a 16 year old male from Wilmington, two 16 year old males from Newark, and a 17 year old male from Wilmington, to the burglary. Beginning Monday July 25, 2016, search warrants were conducted at each of the boy’s residences and three more handguns were recovered upon searching one of the suspect’s homes.
The five teens were all charged with 27 counts of Theft of a Firearm, Burglary 3rd, Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy 2nd, and Criminal Mischief. One of the suspects was charged additionally with two counts of Obliterating a Serial Number on a Firearm. All of the teens are currently incarcerated in the New Castle County Detention Center on cash bonds.
Police said that on Thursday July 28, 2016 around 12:43 a.m., troopers patrolling US40 near SR72 in Bear conducted a traffic stop on a Toyota sedan after the vehicle made an abrupt lane change in front of the patrol vehicle. Upon contacting the driver, who was identified as Gregory M. Wise, 18 of Bear, a strong odor of marijuana was detected. A search was conducted on the car after a State Police K9 alerted to the presence of drugs and a total of 255.91 grams of marijuana was located, police said. Officials said they also located a Ruger handgun which was found to be one of the guns stolen in the Artemus Outfitters burglary.
Gregory Wise was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Receiving a Stolen Firearm. He was arraigned at JP2 and released on $53,000.00 unsecured bond.
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Image Credits: Delaware State Police