Man Charged With Stealing Gun Later Used in Norristown Shooting

By Kara Seymour

A man has been charged with burglarizing two Montgomery County gun shops and illegally selling the stolen firearms, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office announced Monday. One of the stolen firearms was used in a Nov. 3 shooting in Norristown.

Authorities announced that Andrew Rocco of Lansdale has been arrested in the burglary of Dell’s Firearm Specialists in Hatfield Township and Modern Tactical in Lansdale. Officials said he stole numerous firearms and illegally sold them to straw purchasers.

So far, two of the 12 firearms stolen have been recovered, including one that was used in a shooting in Norristown on Nov. 3.

In addition to Rocco, four other people have been arrested for their roles in possessing the recovered firearms.

Rocco is charged with burglary, unlawful sale of firearms, dealing in unlawful proceeds, carrying a firearm without a license and related offenses.

Rocco was arrested after an investigation conducted by local, county and federal investigators. The agencies contributing to the investigation were: Hatfield Police Department, Lansdale Police Department, Norristown Police Department, Towamencin Police Department, Montgomery Township Police Department, Ambler Police Department, Whitpain Police Department, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Violent Crime and Technology Unit of the Montgomery County Detective Bureau.

The case will be prosecuted by the Captain of the Firearms Unit, Assistant District Attorney Rebecca W. Strubel and Assistant District Attorney.

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s office has posted a list of the stolen firearms that have not been recovered on its Facebook page. The list includes descriptions and serial numbers of the guns. Anyone with information about these firearms should contact the Montgomery County Detective Bureau at 610-278-3368.