Court filings link teens to recent Tucson gun shop burglaries

Authorities have not publicly linked the two cases in which vehicles were used to smash through gun store entries before burglars swept through and grabbed guns, but documents filed at Pima County Superior Court say investigators think the same group of teens is involved in both.

In the early morning of Oct. 5, a Hyundai Tucson rammed the front window of Elite Guns and Ammo, 150 S. Camino Seco, according to a search warrant filed with Pima County Superior Court.

After breaking through the glass, multiple people entered the store and began stealing firearms, the court document says.

The group then fled in another vehicle, leaving the stolen Hyundai behind.

Aaron Herman, the owner of the east-side gun shop, called 911 after his security cameras notified him of intruders, prompting a large police call-out, the Star previously reported. But by the time police showed up, the thieves were gone.

About 5 a.m. three days later, Oct. 8, a Kia Sportage was used to ram the front of SNG Tactical, 3441 S. Palo Verde Road, north of East Ajo Way, the court document says.

Multiple people entered the store and stole firearms before fleeing in the Kia, it continues.

About 40 firearms were stolen between the two burglaries, a separate court filing in the case says.

In the days following the second gun shop break-in, four boys between the ages of 14 and 17 were arrested as part of a joint investigation between Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the Tucson Police Department, according to the sheriff's department and the search warrant.

After receiving information about a minor suspected to be involved, investigators searched his home and found 12 guns that had been stolen from SNG Tactical, it continues. He was also linked to the theft of a handgun the previous month.

Investigators later learned that the first teen's 14-year-old cousin was also involved. Through interviews, investigators determined that the 14-year-old was involved in both the Oct. 5 and Oct. 8 burglaries, the search warrant says.

A relative of another of the teens told police that he and one of his friends were involved in the Oct. 8 burglary. Investigators also found a photo he had posted on Instagram of six guns which appeared to match those stolen from SNG Tactical, the search warrant says.

The Star is not naming the accused teens because their cases are being handled in juvenile court.

The sheriff's department on Friday cited the ongoing investigation for not releasing more information about the case, including whether all the stolen guns had been recovered.