LAS VEGAS, NV – A carefully planned smash-and-grab at a San Diego-area gun store exploded into a multi-state manhunt, culminating in the arrest of four men in Las Vegas and the recovery of 35 stolen firearms. The brazen burglary of Poway Weapons and Gear, located at 13550 Danielson St., Poway, Calif., occurred early Monday morning, leaving authorities scrambling to recover the weaponry before it hit the streets.
According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, at 3:18 a.m. Monday, a stolen vehicle was deliberately driven through the storefront of Poway Weapons and Gear. Four individuals stormed inside, systematically looting 78 firearms within a mere four minutes before fleeing in a separate vehicle. The speed and precision of the operation suggested a pre-planned, organized effort.
The joint investigation, spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and involving the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSD), Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), and North Las Vegas Police Department (NLVPD), quickly focused on leads pointing to Las Vegas. Later that day, a search warrant was executed at a Las Vegas residence, yielding a significant haul of stolen weaponry.
Authorities recovered 33 of the 78 stolen firearms inside the residence, and an additional two firearms were found on the persons of two of the suspects during their arrests. The ATF filed federal complaints charging Ky’von Love Bernard Payne, 18, of Boron, Nevada, with transportation of stolen firearms. Both Payne and Semaj’e Ridgeway, 21, of North Las Vegas, face charges of possession of stolen firearms and firearms trafficking. Jahova Bell, 18, of Las Vegas, and Lanell Bellows, 19 of Las Vegas, were also charged with firearms trafficking.
Investigators allege that Payne arrived at Ridgeway’s residence in the vehicle used in the burglary, bringing with him two bags containing stolen firearms. The recovered firearms represent a substantial portion of the stolen cache, but the investigation remains active as authorities continue to hunt for the remaining unaccounted-for weapons. The case is being prosecuted out of U.S. District Court, District of Nevada.
“ATF and our partners are committed to stemming the flow of illegal firearms and holding those responsible for violent crime accountable,” stated an ATF spokesperson. The agency urges anyone with information regarding the remaining stolen firearms to contact the ATF or their local law enforcement agency. The agency can be found at https://www.atf.gov/los-angeles-field-division and on Twitter @LosAngelesATF.
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