Gun Armory Heist Suspect, 17, Arrested In Kent

BELLEVUE, WA - A 17-year-old from Kent has been arrested in connection to a December burglary at a Bellevue gun armory. Bellevue police arrested the teen early Tuesday morning, and investigators suspect he might be involved in other burglaries around Puget Sound.

The Bellevue heist happened around 3 a.m. Dec. 26 at West Coast Armory. Three men rammed a stolen car through the front of the armory, and then headed inside to take guns. Police estimate the trio made off with 72 guns, including semiautomatic rifles and handguns.

The accused burglar was riding in a stolen car in Auburn when police found him. Police found the teen in possession of a handgun that was reported stolen out of Renton. The teen was booked on charges of second-degree burglary, theft of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession of ecstasy with intent to deliver.

Bellevue investigators were able to match the clothing the suspects were wearing during the armory burglary to images captured during a Dec. 13 burglary in Bothell. In that robbery, the suspects pilfered a marijuana store after ramming a car through the front doors.

The stolen car police pulled over in Auburn Tuesday matched the car seen in the Bothell robbery.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Shooting Sports Foundation have each offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to arrests.

File photo via Seattle police