Five people have been arrested in connection with unrelated efforts to rob two Greenwood gun stores last week.
For the first incident, Greenwood Police and Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies were called to Greenwood Trading Post, 2801 Fairview Place, Suite A, for a reported break-in around 2:50 a.m. Sept. 9. This is near the intersection of Fairview Road and State Road 135.
During the robbery, four suspects allegedly drove a stolen vehicle into the front door of the store to gain entry, police said. They were able to steal 16 firearms, the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office said Monday.
Two days after the robbery, on Sept. 11, Greenwood Police executed a search warrant at an Indianapolis home in connection with the burglary. This was after Greenwood detectives were contacted by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department regarding an anonymous tip about a recent gun store burglary, prosecutors say.
Greenwood Police further investigated the anonymous tip and received information about a juvenile suspect. Greenwood detectives, joined by IMPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, then executed a search warrant on an Indianapolis home, according to the prosecutor’s office.
While executing the warrant, officers came into contact with a 16-year-old juvenile suspect and his mother. The juvenile suspect was later interviewed by detectives, which resulted in the juvenile being detained at the Johnson County Juvenile Detention Center. One firearm stolen from the burglary was recovered from the juvenile, prosecutors say.
Prosecutors also say it is now believed that two stolen cars were used in the burglary. Two other Indianapolis juveniles are also believed to be involved.
The Johnson County Prosecutor is currently reviewing the case for charges and determination to whether legal grounds exist to seek a waiver to adult court. The investigation remains ongoing, and GPD continues to investigate the burglary by executing additional search warrants on Marion County homes and developing additional suspects, according to the prosecutor’s office.
As this incident remained under investigation, another incident at a Greenwood gun store occurred on Saturday. An attempted robbery was reported at Atkinson Firearms, 1240 Airport Parkway, Suite 3104, at around 9:19 a.m. Saturday.
This robbery attempt is unrelated to the one that occurred on Monday, said Matt Fillenwarth, Greenwood’s assistant chief of police.
As a result of that investigation, police arrested 18-year-olds Javanta Tavainy Phillips and Devon Warren Tibbs, both of Indianapolis. Two 14-year-olds from Indianapolis, a boy and a girl, were also taken into custody, prosecutors say.
The Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office said prosecutors will review all information for charges as part of that ongoing investigation as it is submitted.
If anyone has any information about the incidents, they are asked to call Greenwood Police at 317-882-9191.
