Two teenagers accused of ramming a vehicle through the doors of a Newington gun store before fleeing with nearly two dozen stolen firearms have been arrested.
Both 16 years old, the juveniles are believed to have been part of a three-person crew that burglarized Dominion Defense at 7200 Fullerton Road, Suite 2 around 1:30 a.m. today (Monday), swiping 21 firearms — 19 long guns and two handguns — from the store, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
“In this particular circumstance, thanks to a lot of things that really went right last night, we were able to make a quick apprehension,” Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said at an afternoon press conference.
The three suspects busted open the doors to the business by using a vehicle allegedly stolen in Maryland as a battering ram, police said. They then entered the store, gathered merchandise and fled in the same vehicle before police arrived, according to surveillance footage.
Shortly thereafter, the suspects ditched the initial vehicle and stole another, FCPD Capt. James Curry said. They used the second vehicle to return to Maryland, but license plate readers identified it as the subject vehicle.
Aided by a police helicopter, two of the suspects were taken into custody in a Gaithersburg residential neighborhood. The third suspect fled the scene before they could be apprehended.
“We followed the two that had a backpack, and that’s what led us to the 13 firearms that have been recovered,” Curry said.
The two teens in custody have been charged as adults in Maryland for possession of a stolen vehicle and stolen firearms, according to state law. Local authorities are currently gathering facts before pursuing charges in Virginia, Davis said.
Conversations will also be held with the local U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine whether federal charges are necessary, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood said.
Monday morning’s burglary is the third major heist at the business in recent years, following a burglary last year that saw the theft of 14 guns.
Surveillance footage from the early morning of Sept. 18, 2024 showed four suspects ramming a reportedly stolen vehicle into the business, ultimately gaining access and collecting the firearms before fleeing the scene.
The business was also hit in April 2023 by a four-man team that gained access to the store and swiped 53 firearms — a combination of handguns and long guns.
Two men involved in the 2023 crime pleaded guilty to their charges and were each sentenced to at least nine years in federal prison last fall.
“We’re here again and something needs to change … We have no reason to believe that [Dominion Defense] doesn’t feel the same way,” Davis said.
