Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Police have discontinued the search for four men involved in this morning’s gun store burglary. On Wednesday, January 6, 2015 around 2:45 a.m. officers responded to NRange, located at 9904 Lebanon Road, for a burglary alarm. At the same time, a citizen reported two suspicious vehicles parked on Parrish Hill, where individuals were unloading items out of one car and into another. Around 2:47 a.m., an officer spotted a suspicious car on Lebanon Road and stopped the car on Park Glen Drive. Once the car was stopped, three black men ran from the car and into a nearby wooded area.
Further investigation revealed that four suspects used a Volvo car, stolen out of Metro-Nashville, to crash into the front window of NRange. After crashing into the window, the suspects gained access to the gun store and stole 19 firearms, which was a mix of long guns and handguns. The suspects then drove over to Parrish Hill and unloaded the stolen firearms out of the stolen Volvo and into a Chevrolet Caprice
The Chevrolet was stopped by an officer on Park Glen Drive, and three suspects ran from the officer into a nearby wooded area. Those three suspects are described as young adult black men with a thin build and wearing dark clothing and possibly camo. Officers recovered most of the stolen firearms, and only 2 handguns remain unaccounted for. The fourth suspect was never spotted by officers, but he was captured on surveillance footage at NRange. Special Agents with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are assisting in the investigation.
Around 8:18 a.m. this morning, in the 2700 block of Curd Road, a resident reported that she heard someone attempting to get inside her home. However, she never saw any suspects. Officers responded to that area and conducted an extensive search, using Lebanon Emergency Services Unit’s K9 to assist in the search. No one was located during the search.
Investigators no longer believe that the suspects are in the area. However, out of an abundance of caution, multiple officers will continue to provide heavy patrols. If someone suspicious is spotted, the public is urged to call police.
Mt. Juliet High School, Mt. Juliet Middle School, Elzie Patton Elementary School, and West Elementary School were all placed on a soft lock-down during the active search. -MJPD
