2 Burglars Break Into Controversial Arlington Gun Shop NOVA Armory: Police

ARLINGTON, VA — Two people broke into NOVA Armory -- a controversial gun shop that opened in the spring -- in the early morning hours of Sept. 19, but didn't take any weapons before fleeing the scene, police say.

Police responded to a burglary alarm in the 2300 block of N. Pershing Drive in the Lyon Park neighborhood just after 5 a.m., according to a report from the Arlington County Police Department, which had confirmed on Twitter earlier that it was a gun store.

"Arriving officers located a broken door to the business and secured the scene," the report states. "The suspects had fled prior to police arrival. No weapons were taken during the burglary."

Ashley Savage, a spokesperson for the police department, said that the investigation is ongoing and officers were still collecting evidence.

The controversy over NOVA Armory has quieted down in recent months, but the gun shop encountered lots of opposition when it opened back in the spring. Protesters demonstrated against it, and local lawmakers sent a letter asking the landlord to reconsider hosting the store. NOVA Armory responded by slapping 64 people with a $2.1 million lawsuit in April for their opposition, even claiming in the lawsuit that death threats had been made against the 16-year-old girl who is the daughter of the store's business manager.

Image via Arlington County Police Department