Bellevue Police Make Arrest in Gun Store Burglary, Investigation Continues

Yesterday morning at 5:00 a.m., Bellevue Police investigators, assisted by members of the Bellevue Police SWAT team, arrested a suspect in connection with a December 26th burglary of a Bellevue gun store. The suspect, a 17 year-old juvenile male who resides in Kent, WA, is also suspected in at least two other similar burglaries in the area.

On December 26th, three suspects used a stolen vehicle to ram through the front doors of the West Coast Armory in Bellevue. The suspects stole 72 firearms and one silencer. Investigators learned that the suspects were wearing the same clothing as the suspects in the burglary of a marijuana store in Bothell on December 13th in which a stolen vehicle was also used to ram through the doors of the business. Armed with this connection, as well as other additional evidence, investigators were able to locate the suspect, who was the passenger in a stolen vehicle being driven in Auburn. When the suspect was arrested, the vehicle he was found in had the same license plates as whose that were seen on the stolen vehicle used in the Bothell marijuana store Robbery. A stolen handgun was found at the suspect’s feet when he was arrested. That handgun had been stolen from Renton in a separate theft.

The suspect was booked into King County juvenile detention for investigation of burglary in the second degree, theft of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession of MDMA with intent to deliver. The other four occupants of the vehicle were also arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, however they are not believed to be involved in the Bellevue burglary case. The investigation in this case continues, and additional arrests are possible in the future.