Four men are now facing charges in smash and grab robberies at two separate gun shops Sept. 11 and 12. Two of the men were identified by an acquaintance seeking the $20,000 reward offered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in the incidents. Two others were reportedly arrested following a social media post displaying an array of the stolen weapons, according to authorities.
Charges are being sought against the men in connection to the theft of 76 guns from gun shops in Westland and Dearborn Heights. The first robbery occurred at about 4:31 a.m. Sept. 11 at the Freedom Holster Gun Shop on South Wayne Road in Westland.
Thieves drove a stolen Kia SUV through the metal security shutters covering the front entrance to the building, rushed inside and grabbed about 50 long guns and handguns before fleeing. Surveillance video showed several men wearing masks and gloves while in the store for less than one minute.That incident was followed at 5:04 a.m. the same day when thieves crashed a stolen Dodge Journey into the front of CC Coins Jewelry and Loan on West Warren in Dearborn Heights. In this incident, surveillance cameras caught three individuals wearing hooded sweatshirts and masks while taking 22 guns from the store. The same shop was broken into a second time at about 12:15 a.m. Sept. 12 when thieves crashed a stolen Chevrolet Equinox into the entrance and left with multiple firearms, according to police reports.
Keondrick Rayford, one of the men now facing multiple federal charges, went to the home of an acquaintance in Westland and showed him a backpack loaded with guns, according to statements given to police. The man he visited told Westland investigators that he wanted to cooperate in response to the $20,000 reward offered by the ATF. He said he also recognized the clothing Rayford was wearing from the surveillance video shown on TV.
The witness told police that Rayford had texted him confirming the robberies and suggested a possible sale of the weapons, according to court filings. The owner of CC Coins Jewelry and Loan confirmed that a photo of a handgun that Rayford sent to the witness appeared to have been stolen from his store.
Agents from the ATF arrested Rayford and his brother, Kendrick Rayford, on Sept. 13, and according to police Keondrick Rayford admitted to the thefts. His brother, Kendrick Rayford, told police that he did not participate in the robberies, although he did admit, police said, that he knew the guns shown to him by his brother were stolen. He also admitted he tried to help his brother sell the stolen firearms, according to police.
Authorities were alerted to a social media post Sept. 16 which clearly showed a man holding an AK-style weapon along with another photo displaying numerous weapons matching the description of those stolen in the Westland robbery, according to reports. Agents from the ATF then searched a home on Forrer Street in Detroit. During a search of the home, agents found one gun on a dresser and six guns split between two backpacks. Some guns had altered serial numbers, and four of them matched those reported stolen in the robberies.
As a result of the search warrant, Brandon Carter and Damond “Turk” Jordan Jr. were named in criminal complaints that were unsealed Sept. 16. Carter, who is accused of acting as a getaway driver for the CC Coins Jewelry and Loan robbery, reportedly admitted to being at both of the crimes at the pawn shop, according to the criminal complaint. His brother, Damond “Turk” Jordan Jr., was also arrested and accused of helping sell the stolen guns.
Keondrick Rayford has been charged in a criminal complaint with theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee and knowingly possessing stolen firearms. ATF authorities said they also believe there is probable cause to charge Kendrick Rayford with knowingly possessing stolen firearms.
