Norristown Gun Dealer Responsible For Death of Officer, Suit Alleges

A Norristown gun dealer should be held responsible for selling the weapon used in the 2012 murder of a Plymouth Township police officer, alleges a civil lawsuit filed by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, representing the officer’s widow.

A preliminary hearing on the case was held on Monday.

Officer Bradley Fox was shot by Andrew Thomas with a weapon bought by Michael Henry, a “straw purchaser” who bought weapons for those who could not pass a background check.

In Site Firearms sold six guns to Henry between April 2012 and July 2012, the lawsuit claims. Henry in turn sold them to Thomas, who could not pass a background check due to his prior criminal record. This makes In Site liable for Fox’s death, the complaint states.

The lawsuit is filed against both retired police officer Luke Kelly, owner of In Site, and William Gordon, a former business partner and owner of Alibi Corporation.

Gordon’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, says that Gordon had stopped doing business with In Site six months before the sale occurred.

“We were drug in here by an overzealous organization that that wants to punish Alibi Corporation (Gordon’s business) for an association that ended six months before the purchase ever happened,” Gottlieb said. ”He has nothing to do whatsoever with that miscreant’s purchase.”

In Site did not take the necessary steps to minimize the risk of making sales to straw purchasers, according to the Brady Center, failing to utilize “reasonable care” and “best practices.”

“Most gun dealers are responsible business people, but unfortunately a few bad apples endanger our communities by putting profits over the lives of people, and choosing to supply the criminal gun market,” said Jonathan Lowy, director of the Brady Center’s Legal Action Project, in an email. “‘Bad apple’ gun dealers must be held accountable for their irresponsible sales practices in order to make our communities safer.”

The failures were in knowing and willful violation of its duties as a licensed gun dealer, the suit states.

In the wake of Fox’s death, the “Brad Fox Law” was passed, establishing required minimum sentences for repeat straw purchasers.

Thomas committed suicide after the incident, while Henry was sentenced to 20 to 66 years in jail for the straw purchase.

The case is part of a nationwide campaign by the Brady Center targeting gun dealers who sold weapons used in crimes.