Posted on 02/08/2013 1:49:26 PM PST by Red Badger
The manager of the Las Vegas gun store that murder suspect and fired Los Angeles Police officer Christopher Jordan Dorner criticized in his manifesto said Dorner was a customer, but never purchased any firearms there.
Tony Melendez, manager of Lock N Load said all customers' purchases are confidential, but the store never sold a gun to Dorner because he was a California resident.
"He never purchased any firearms in the store," Melendez said.
A California resident would not be able to legally purchase a firearm in Nevada or another state without having the weapon transferred to a federally-licensed gun dealer in California.
Southern California law enforcement officers escalated a manhunt for Dorner on Thursday after he allegedly used a rifle killed one Riverside police officer and wounded another during an early morning ambush attack.
The multi-agency manhunt for Dorner is currently focused on the Bear Valley area.
Dorner is also suspected in the Sunday night killing of Cal State Fullerton assistant women's basketball coach Monica Quan and her fiancee, USC public safety officer Keith Lawrence.
Quan, 28, was the daughter of Randal Quan, a retired Los Angeles police captain who became an attorney. Quan represented Dorner at the LAPD hearing that led to Dorner's firing.
Dorner wrote in his manifesto that he believes he was unjustly terminated for reporting police brutality and is willing to commit"horrendous murders" and "necessary evil" to change the LAPD.
The rambling manifesto also complains that gun laws are too loose and Dorner states he made multiple purchases of suppressors with a trust account he created using Quicken software to avoid a proper background check.
Although Dorner does not specifically say what he purchased from Lock N Load, he singled out the Las Vegas gun retailer for verbal attack.
"Lock N Load just wanted money so they allow you to purchase class III (sic) weapons with just a notarized trust, miltary ID. Shame on you Lock N Load," Dorner wrote.
A Class III firearms license allows a dealer to sell silencers, machine guns and short-barrelled rifles or shotguns regulated by the National Firearms Act.
Dorner's manifesto also attacks several police officers, National Rifle Association leader Wayne LaPierre, the Westboro Baptist Church and people who have doubted President Barack Obama's status as a natural born citizen.
"Nobody likes to hear the name of their business listed in this manner, but this is a guy whose pain goes deeper," Melendez said.
Melendez recalled that Dorner visited the gun store about once every other month, or about four times since he has been employed at the store.
"This was a guy who appeared to us as your average gun enthusiast," Melendez said. "Very personable. Very kind. Very friendly."
Irvine Police Lt. Julia Ingen said the department is not identifying what kind of weapon Dorner is suspected of using to kill Quan and Lawrence to avoid jeopardizing their investigation.
Other law enforcement officials involved in the Bear Valley search have also refrained from saying which guns Dorner is suspected of using.
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, however, said Thursday that Dorner is believed to in possession of multiple weapons, including assault rifles.
The Los Angeles News Group contributed to this report
I am not surprised that California residents can’t buy in Nevada but I am a Florida resident and I can buy in Alabama with no problems as long as they are shotguns or rifles.
If I were a betting man, I’d be willing to lay down a couple of bucks that he’s nowhere near Big Bear. He burned his truck, laid down some false tracks, and the boogied outta there.
He’s probably back in L.A., or maybe one of the outlying suburbs. Earlier I watched a livestream from KTLA, and the cops were saying there’s half a million guys who answer to Dorner’s description.
This whole thing is beginning to sound fishy. I wouldn’t be surprised if society learns 100 years from now this fella was an operative who was told to do just what he’s doing WITH support in order to further the gun-control agenda.
“A Class III firearms license allows a dealer to sell silencers...”
Really? I don’t remember the people at the auto parts store having a Class 3 license to sell oil filters which make really awesome sound suppressors!
Silly stupid statists think they can regulate everything.
What part? I’m in FWB-DESTIN..........
Lawn mower mufflers work well...........
He may not have been the one who drove it there and set it on fire. Why set it on fire in the first place? Get rid of someone else’s fingerprints..........
I'm thinking the same thing... diversion. He's probably hanging out on a Mexican beach sipping margaritas, watching the news, and laughing.
Or he froze to death up on Bear Mountain last night, which would be okay.
I have to say it -
the left is constantly saying that only police and military should be trusted with firearms.
This guy was a cop. According to the left, he should have been one of the people that have the monopoly on the use of deadly force.
Briggs & Stratton?..........
I live in rural Holmes County near the Walton County line. When I was a kid, I worked at LaFountain’s Wharf.
I can’t believe how much Destin and South Walton County have changed.
Hard to say.
I think he’s in L.A., maybe gone to ground, waiting and biding his time until he strikes. He’ll pick off the occasional random patrolman, one or two at a time, or try to go after one of the targets he mentioned (or their families).
If he’s good, and by that I mean methodical and careful, well, I hate to say it, but he could rack up one hell of a bodycount before he goes down.
When guns are outlawed, only outlaws and cops will have guns......but that’s being redundant.....
He could have driven it up there with a motorcycle in the back? He could have parked the motorcycle elsewhere then parked the truck and burnt it. Then walked back to the motorcycle and drive out of there.
I’ve lived here for 30+ years and remember when most of south Walton was pine forest. I used to work in Panama City at the Navy base and drove 60 miles to work every day.........
Yes, the older Briggs and Stratton engines. I remember them from when I worked at Sears. First time I saw one, I commented to a co-worker (an old Sears veteran, 20-plus years), “Damn. Looks like a suppressor.” And he said, “Yup. They work pretty good as suppressors too, for a couple of rounds at least.”
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