Greenwood, Indiana, witnessed a spate of gun store burglaries last week which has led to the arrest of five teenagers, local authorities said. The incidents involved the alleged theft of firearms from two separate Greenwood gun stores, with the latest arrests tied to an attempt at Atkinson Firearms over the weekend. FOX59 reported the arrest of two 18-year-olds, Javanta Tavainy Phillips and Devon Warren Tibbs, alongside two 14-year-olds from Indianapolis, a boy and a girl, following an attempted burglary at the store located on 1240 Airport Parkway.
Earlier in the week, a separate incident resulted in a break-in at Greenwood Trading Post, where suspects reportedly drove a stolen vehicle through the store's front door, resulting in the theft of 16 firearms, between this aggressive heist and an attempted burglary that happened only days after, Greenwood's police force has been on high alert, scrambling to contain what appears to be a surge in firearm-targeted crimes amongst youths, according to Daily Journal. A 16-year-old suspect was detained on September 11 in connection to the Greenwood Trading Post burglary, with at least one stolen firearm recovered during a subsequent investigation that also hinted at the involvement of two stolen cars.
The search, spearheaded by the Greenwood Police Department, involved coordination with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), acting on an anonymous tip that led to a search warrant on an Indianapolis residence. This home contained both a juvenile suspect and his mother, with the juvenile eventually being interviewed by detectives and detained at the Johnson County Juvenile Detention Center, WRTV reported.
The Johnson County Prosecutor's Office is currently reviewing the cases for possible charges and considering whether to request a waiver for the juveniles to be tried as adults, the office is dealing not only with the immediate aftermath of these crimes but the broader implications of such youthful offenders engaging in dangerously sophisticated criminal enterprises; Greenwood's Assistant Chief of Police, Matt Fillenwarth, highlighted that the incidents at Greenwood Trading Post and Atkinson Firearms were unrelated, suggesting a disturbing trend rather than isolated events, advised Daily Journal. The investigations continue as Greenwood Police actively execute additional search warrants and develop further leads on potential suspects.
The Johnson County Prosecutor, Lance Hamner, elaborated the procedure for the ongoing investigations, stating, "The Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office will review all information for charges as part of this ongoing investigation as it is submitted," as reported by FOX59. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incidents to come forward and call Greenwood Police at 317-882-9191.
