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Gun Store Burglary Lands Two in Hot Water
On September 22, 2022, a brazen burglary took place at the Rabbit Ridge Gun Shop and Range in Ararat, Virginia. Thirteen firearms were stolen in the early morning break-in. Bradley Wayne McCraw, 43, of Gaffney, South Carolina, and Justin Darrell Whitaker, 30, of Cleveland County, North Carolina, are now facing serious charges for their alleged roles in the crime.
According to the indictment, McCraw and Whitaker are each charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of knowingly and intentionally stealing firearms from an FFL, and one count of possession of stolen firearms. The indictment was returned in August by a federal grand jury in Danville, Virginia.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office, and several other sheriff’s offices in South Carolina and North Carolina.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin B. Johnson is prosecuting the case. While an indictment is merely an allegation, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Rabbit Ridge Gun Shop and Range is a licensed firearms dealer, and the theft of firearms from the business posed a significant threat to public safety. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is working closely with local law enforcement to ensure that those responsible for the burglary are held accountable.
As the investigation continues, the community can expect to see more information about the case. In the meantime, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is urging anyone with information about the burglary to come forward and assist with the investigation.
The case highlights the importance of protecting our communities from violent crime and the need for effective law enforcement partnerships to prevent and investigate such crimes.
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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