Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NEW ORLEANS, LA. – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New Orleans Field Division in conjunction with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) today announced a combined reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons in the burglary of a gun store operator in Slidell, Louisiana earlier this month.

ATF New Orleans is offering a reward of up to $2,500, which will be matched by the NSSF of up to $2,500, for a total reward of up to $5,000.

On March 7, 2020, at approximately 2:00 a.m., several unidentified suspects entered the F.I.T.S. Indoor Range & Gun Shop, a federal firearm licensee (FFL), at 3191 Terrace Avenue, Slidell, LA by entering through the front door of the building, opening a display case, and stealing multiple firearms. The suspects exited the store and fled in an unknown direction.

Two days later, on March 9, 2020, at approximately 10:00 a.m., two suspects carjacked one person and then shot at an Orleans Levee District police officer after a chase and crash in New Orleans East. Both suspects were arrested. Police said the two suspects are allegedly involved in a second carjacking.

Police believe these suspects are part of a larger group of criminals that have been conducting carjackings in the New Orleans area over the past several months.

This reward is part of a larger national cooperative initiative between the NSSF, the trade association for the firearm industry, and ATF in which the NSSF matches ATF rewards in cases involving the theft of firearms from federally licensed firearms retailers. 

The ATF New Orleans Field Division, Slidell Police Department, and New Orleans Police Department are jointly investigating this crime. Anyone with any information about these crimes should contact ATF at (888) ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), the ATF New Orleans Field Division’s Group I at 504-841-7100, the Slidell Police Department at 985-643-3131, or the New Orleans Police Department at 504-821-2222.

Information can also be sent to ATFTips@atf.gov, through ATF’s website at www.atf.gov/contact/atftips. Tips can be submitted anonymously using the Reportit® app, available from both Google Play and the Apple App store, or by visiting www.reportit.com.

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.

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