Henrico gun and pawn shop manager hopes for justice after car drives through store, several items stolen
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The store manager and employees of Knight & Pawn in Henrico County are left to pick up the pieces -- literally, in the case of their destroyed front door -- after a Saturday morning break-in, during which a car drove into the store. At about 5:07 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, officers with the Henrico County Police Division responded to the 7400 block of West Broad Street for a report commercial alarm. When they arrived at the scene, they found an unoccupied car -- one that was later reported to be stolen. 8News spoke with the store's manager, Morgan Painter, who said that two cars were used to break into the shop. This was caught on the business' security camera footage. According to Painter, one car drove into the front doors, passing through a metal gate, while the other was used as a getaway car. Painter added that the footage showed four people were involved, all of whom he said looked young. "All four people ran in with bags and everybody had masks and hoods," Painter said. "It seemed very targeted. They knew exactly what they wanted." In addition to the significant damage done to the door, several guns -- including handguns, long guns, air pistols, AK-style pistols and more -- were taken off of their wall display, Painter said. A glass case where other guns were stored was also smashed in. 99 vehicles pulled over on Hull Street Road in one day during traffic enforcement operation "The silver lining, I guess you would say ... none of the pawns — the pawns [that] belonged to customers ... that's in a separate area and secured separately," Painter said. "So we're very fortunate that none of that was messed with." 8News spoke with people who frequent the area, who were also shocked to hear what had happened. "People are desperate," said John Kielmeyer of Henrico. "They need funds, resources ... and when you can't afford rent or [you have to decide] to pay for your medication rather than food, those are tough decisions and [they] lead people [to do] crazy things." Painter told 8News he is glad the incident occurred after hours. so that no one was injured. He added that the business is currently working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF, along with county police, as this investigation remains ongoing. "This is our busy season and this is [when] we should be making money to pay for all those families that we employ to put food on the table and provide — you know, Christmas presents and stuff like that," Painter said. "We didn't want to shut the store down. We have tons of loyal customers that are amazing and they come in all the time and see us and repeat customers and that's what's kept us going." This is a developing story, stick with 8News for updates.
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The store manager and employees of Knight & Pawn in Henrico County are left to pick up the pieces -- literally, in the case of their destroyed front door -- after a Saturday morning break-in, during which a car drove into the store.
At about 5:07 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, officers with the Henrico County Police Division responded to the 7400 block of West Broad Street for a report commercial alarm.
When they arrived at the scene, they found an unoccupied car -- one that was later reported to be stolen.
8News spoke with the store's manager, Morgan Painter, who said that two cars were used to break into the shop. This was caught on the business' security camera footage.
According to Painter, one car drove into the front doors, passing through a metal gate, while the other was used as a getaway car.
Painter added that the footage showed four people were involved, all of whom he said looked young.
"All four people ran in with bags and everybody had masks and hoods," Painter said. "It seemed very targeted. They knew exactly what they wanted."
In addition to the significant damage done to the door, several guns -- including handguns, long guns, air pistols, AK-style pistols and more -- were taken off of their wall display, Painter said. A glass case where other guns were stored was also smashed in.
99 vehicles pulled over on Hull Street Road in one day during traffic enforcement operation
"The silver lining, I guess you would say ... none of the pawns — the pawns [that] belonged to customers ... that's in a separate area and secured separately," Painter said. "So we're very fortunate that none of that was messed with."
8News spoke with people who frequent the area, who were also shocked to hear what had happened.
"People are desperate," said John Kielmeyer of Henrico. "They need funds, resources ... and when you can't afford rent or [you have to decide] to pay for your medication rather than food, those are tough decisions and [they] lead people [to do] crazy things."
Painter told 8News he is glad the incident occurred after hours. so that no one was injured.
He added that the business is currently working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF, along with county police, as this investigation remains ongoing.
"This is our busy season and this is [when] we should be making money to pay for all those families that we employ to put food on the table and provide — you know, Christmas presents and stuff like that," Painter said. "We didn't want to shut the store down. We have tons of loyal customers that are amazing and they come in all the time and see us and repeat customers and that's what's kept us going."
This is a developing story, stick with 8News for updates.