What started as gunfire on a Dunn street ended with two stolen Raleigh handguns off the road and three people detained, according to police. Dunn officers say they recovered the weapons during a search-warrant raid after detectives spotted clothing and other items that looked a lot like what they had already seen on surveillance video from an attempted break-in at a local gun shop. The investigation is still active, and police say more charges could be coming.
Shots fired prompted search and raid
According to CBS17, officers were called around 1:40 a.m. Thursday after shots were fired into an occupied car in the 1400 block of Lakeshore Drive in Dunn. Police canvassed the area, then later secured a search warrant for a home in the 700 block of Queens Avenue. The outlet also reports that officers had already been out on the 1500 block of Lakeshore Drive for a separate call about an attempted Dodge van theft, where two suspects ran off after spotting police.
Guns and matching evidence recovered
Per the Dunn Police Department, investigators working alongside the Harnett County Sheriff's Office recovered a Glock 17 and a Smith & Wesson Shield 9mm that had been reported stolen out of Raleigh. Inside the Queens Avenue home, officers say they also found clothing, masks and a glove that looked similar to items seen in surveillance footage from the gun shop.
Surveillance tied raid to attempted break-in
In a news release from the Dunn Police Department, detectives said they reviewed June 8 surveillance video from Gunner's Choice and noticed a backpack that matched one seized during the warrant service. Police say that detail helped them connect the search to the attempted gun-shop break-in and identify the suspects who were later detained.
Detentions and legal status
Officers detained Mekhi Chavis along with two juveniles in connection with the case, according to the department. One juvenile was released to a parent, while the other was placed in the custody of the Department of Social Services. The release also notes that Chavis was taken into custody on outstanding warrants, including a Wake County first-degree trespassing warrant, and stresses that the broader investigation is ongoing, with additional charges or arrests still on the table.
Why recoveries matter
Gun thefts have been a stubborn problem in Raleigh and across the region, with Raleigh police reporting 432 guns stolen from vehicles last year, a slight drop from 471 the year before. Officials keep pushing for secure storage and a simple nightly routine of locking up vehicles and firearms. WRAL notes that when police do recover traceable guns, those weapons can help tie cases together, link firearms to other crimes and expose trafficking patterns that might otherwise stay hidden.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the Dunn case to contact the Dunn Police Department. This story will be updated as charging documents and other public records become available.
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