Robbers used an SUV to ram a New Iberia gun store on July 29th before stealing firearms and leaving the SUV stuck in the building.
At least 2 vehicles, one of which was used as a battering ram, were used to steal guns from Cajun Gun and Tackle at 684 E. Admiral Doyle Drive. The incident took place shortly after 4 a.m. , Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal said.
“They drove in and stole a bunch of guns,” Ackal said. “That was the primary, but they also left a lot of forensic evidence, lots of blood and prints.”
Investigators did not know this morning how many guns had been taken.
As of 6:35 a.m., Ackal and half a dozen Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office patrol units, as well as a K-9 unit and two crime scene investigators, were on scene.
One of the robbery vehicles, a gold and silver Mitsubishi SUV, was still protruding from the back door of the store, which was unoccupied at the time of the incident. A glass window in the front of the store also was shattered.
Ackal said several attempts to rob the store have been made in the past.
“This time they felt the best way was to just drive through the back,” Ackal said.
Ackal said the robbers had the foresight to tear out phone lines leading into the building, disabling the alarm system. He also raised the possibility of gang involvement in the incident.
“I won’t rule that out,” Ackal said.
“As much blood as we’ve got at the scene, we’ve got someone going to the hospital. We’re probably dealing with young people here. They were smart enough to cut the phone and power, so they must watch enough TV to know to do that.”
The sheriff’s office were unable to provide additional information on the suspects as of press time.
Ackal said the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was notified, which is standard procedure in the case where firearms have been stolen.
Ackal said at 7 a.m. a vehicle found abandoned in New Iberia was believed to be the other vehicle involved in the incident, and was confident the investigation would be concluded soon.
“I don’t think this will be a hard one to bust,” Ackal said.
Keith Price, the owner of Blues Archery, which shares space with Cajun Gun and Tackle, was at the scene as the investigation continued.
“I think this is crazy,” Price said of the incident.
