Handguns Stolen From Powell Shooting Range

nbc4i.com ^ | 6 March 2011 | Andy Long

[smokingfrog]

POWELL, Ohio --

Powell Police and Central Ohio Crime Stoppers are looking for a suspect accused of stealing two handguns from a Powell firing range.

Police say that on February 9, 2011 the suspect entered the Powder Room Gun Range in Powell.

After renting two semi-automatic handguns for use on the indoor range, the suspect told the clerk that he needed additional ammunition from his vehicle, according to Police.

The suspect took the handguns with him and never returned.

The two guns taken were a Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun with serial number FNH951 and a Springfield XD9 9mm handgun with serial number #US926644.

Powell Police say that one of the stolen guns was used by 17-year-old Dewayne T. Smith on March 4 during a shootout with Columbus police

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers posted a reward of as much as $2,000 for any information received by March 16, 2011, that leads to the arrest and/or indictment of the persons responsible for the theft.

[smokingfrog]

Video at link.

[smokingfrog]

Stolen gun fired at police officer

[scott7278]

This doesn’t fit the narrative. Stolen guns are never used in crimes - only ones where the owner has submitted to fingerprints and a background check, along with some sort of fee.

[smokingfrog]

I hope that gun range does something about their lax gun rental policy. If the other stolen gun ends up being used in a crime, and someone gets hurt or killed, they’ll be sued out of business.

[scott7278]

My local range only allows one to be rented at a time. I also can’t see them letting someone just leave a gun unattended at the firing station (from their perspective) so that someone can go out to their car.

Sloppiness all around.

[Lockbar]

I've never understood the gun rental thing. I own a good number of pistols and have done alot of shooting at indoor ranges. I've always thought it was a liability for the store owner. In my area there have been two on-range suicides done by people who rented a pistol and shot them selves.

[smokingfrog]

I think it’s mainly for someone that wants to try out 2 or 3 guns before they buy one — to see which one they like best.

[Ghengis]

My first thought as well. If he was trying on rings at a jewelry store, the clerk would not let him run out to his car to get his wallet without securing the merchandise that he was sampling.

When you leave the range, staff takes control of the rental weapons until you reenter the range seems the sensible way to handle that.

I used to shoot at that range all of the time back in the 80's. They were a pretty laid back bunch of folks. The only thing they got their shorts in a bunch about back then was people firing full magnum rounds in the range. They'd go out the back wall some times.

[School of Rational Thought]

the ranges I visit ALL require Id just to shoot let alone rent a firearm.

[Red in Blue PA]

Why would someone want to steal Tupperware?

(flame suit on!)

[smokingfrog]

"And if you fill them with frozen ice, they make great weapons!"