Troy Harris, Gun Store Theft, Newington CT, 2021

NEWINGTON, CT – A Newington gun store was hit in September 2021, and now the alleged perpetrator is facing federal charges. Troy Harris, 28, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Hartford on charges stemming from the theft of five firearms from Hoffman’s “Guns for the Good Guys.” The ATF has been investigating the case since the initial incident.

According to the indictment, Harris allegedly made off with two Kimber Micro 9 9mm semiautomatic pistols, two Kimber Pro Carry .45 ACP semiautomatic pistols, and one Kimber Super Match .45 ACP semiautomatic pistol. The theft occurred on September 7, 2021, and Harris has been held in custody ever since his arrest that same day.

This isn’t Harris’s first brush with the law. Court records show a lengthy criminal history in Connecticut, including convictions for escape in the first degree, burglary in the third degree, and robbery in the first degree. As a convicted felon, possessing these firearms is a federal offense, particularly since the weapons had moved in interstate commerce.

Harris appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges of theft of firearms from a licensee and unlawful possession of firearms by a felon. If convicted, Harris faces a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars. U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery was quick to remind the public that an indictment is merely an allegation and Harris is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Boston Field Division, the Newington Police Department, and the Bristol Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings is prosecuting the case as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a violent crime reduction initiative.

Avery also thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of New Britain for their assistance. PSN focuses on targeting the most violent offenders and working with local programs to prevent future crime. The program’s effectiveness is based on data-driven strategies to address community-specific violence problems. The case remains ongoing, and the Grimy Times will continue to follow developments.

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