4 Arrested After AR-15s Stolen From Area Gun Stores: Police

PITTSBURGH, PA — Four people, including three juveniles, were arrested during a traffic stop in Pittsburgh on Monday night in connection with the theft of nearly two dozen firearms from gun stores in Mercer and Lawrence counties, according to police and reports.

Police initially reported that three people were arrested. On Tuesday, police released a statement updating the number of people taken into custody to four.

Pittsburgh police confirmed the traffic stop happened around 9 p.m. after officers spotted a white Hyundai Accent near the intersection of West Warrington Avenue and Saw Mill Boulevard. The four occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody for questioning, police said.

The three juveniles arrested were each charged with possession of a firearm by a minor and receiving stolen property, police said. They were released to juvenile probation for placement.

Mehki Reed, 19, of Pittsburgh, was charged with person not to possess a firearm.He was taken to the Allegheny County Jail, police said.

According to a CBS Pittsburgh report citing Mercer police, surveillance video showed three men stealing an unknown number of guns from Seconds Count Firearms in Mercer County after crashing their car into the store. The robbery happened around 5:15 a.m. Monday, reports said.

A similar robbery also happened at Duke’s Gun Shop in New Castle, where 10 AR-15 rifles and ammunition were stolen, Mercer County District Attorney Peter Acker told Action News 4.

At least 21 guns were stolen, Pittsburgh police said.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating, police said.