Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Seeks the Public’s Help in Gun Store Burglary and Larceny Investigation

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help today in relation to a burglary and larceny that occurred at an Oconee County gun store this past Saturday evening, May 24th.

The Sheriff’s Office is also seeking to identify a person of interest in relation to the ongoing investigation. 

Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Bureau were dispatched late Saturday evening to Deep South Defense, located on the Highway 123 by-pass near Old Clemson Highway, in reference to reports of a burglary.  Upon arrival, the Deputy spoke with the owner of the business, who had discovered that a back door handle of the business was broken. 

For safety purposes, Deputies cleared the building.  Deputies were informed by the business owner that an AR-15 style rifle had been stolen from the business.  The initials of “DSD Seneca SC” are engraved on the rifle. 

Evidence obtained during the investigation shows a white male making entry, and then exiting, the business.  The white male is also observed walking by the front of another business that is next door to the incident location. 

The Criminal Investigations Bureau was notified and a Crime Scene Technician responded to the scene to continue to gather evidence. 

The Investigator from the Property Crimes Unit of the Criminal Investigations Bureau, who has been assigned the case, has been notified that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the investigation.

If you have any information on the burglary and larceny at Deep South Defense that occurred on Saturday evening, May 24th, or the identity of the person of interest in the investigation, you are asked to contact Crimestoppers, where you don’t have to give your name, and submit a tip by calling 1-844-71-CRIME, online at 71crime.com or by downloading the free P3 app on your mobile device. 

Besides the award being offered by the ATF, a tip to Crimestoppers that leads to an arrest is also eligible for a cash reward.