Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Atoka, Tenn. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, have announced a combined reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those individuals who are responsible for the burglary of the South End Gun and Pawn LLC, located at 14382 US 51N, Atoka, TN, 38004.

On September 9, 2023, at approximately 1:00 am, an officer with the Atoka Police Department was on routine patrol in the 14000 block of Hwy 51 when he saw a blue pickup truck backed up to a closed business. The officer pulled onto the parking lot as the truck drove off. The officer pursued the truck southbound on Hwy 51 until he lost visuals, as the truck was driving at a dangerously high rate of speed into Shelby County.

Officers found that the unknown suspects forcibly gained access into the building by utilizing their pickup truck to ram the side of the business. The suspect's vehicle is a blue pickup, possibly a GMC, with rear-end damage.

The FFL in conjunction with ATF has conducted an inventory of the business and determined that approximately 169 firearms were stolen.

“The ATF is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to apprehend the suspect/s who are responsible for this crime before they commit future crimes, said ATF Nashville Field Division Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.

Anyone with information about this incident or identification of the individuals involved are asked to contact the ATF. Call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email ATFTips@atf.gov or submit information anonymously via www.Reportit.com. Anyone with Information can also email Investigator Dan Jacobs with the Atoka Police Department at djacobs@townofatoka.com, call (901) 395-9849 or (901) 837-5302.

ATF works closely with members of the firearms industry to curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms. ATF is the lead federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction involving firearms and violent crimes and regulates the firearm industry. More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov. Follow @ATFNashville on Twitter for ATF news in Tennessee and Alabama.

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