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Reward offered in May gun theft

by JOSH McDONALD
Staff Writer | September 20, 2024 1:00 AM

KELLOGG — A reward is being offered for anyone with information about a robbery that occurred in May which resulted in the recovery of a handgun near Kellogg High School.   

The robbery happened May 16 at the Downtown Gun and Pawn in Missoula, when a man entered the pawn shop and requested to see a firearm that was for sale. After the handgun was in his possession, the suspect left the store with the firearm and fled in a dark gray or silver Lexus bearing unknown out-of-state license plates.  

The gun was found May 20 by a KHS teacher, who discovered it inside a box while her class was picking up trash along Jackass Creek. The teacher turned the firearm over to the school resource officer, police said. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Denver Field Division, in conjunction with the Missoula Police Department and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms industry, are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of those involved. 

After the firearm was discovered, the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office traced it to the theft and searched the school grounds to ensure there were no threats to the students.  

Anyone with information about this robbery should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477). Information can also be sent to ATFTips@atf.gov or through ATF’s website at www.atf.gov/contact/atftips. Tips can be submitted anonymously using the Reportit app, or by visiting www.reportit.com.