UPDATE April 3, 12:30 p.m.: The CPD has identified 18-year-old Juantavious Gardner as one of the three burglary suspects who entered Emergency Pawn and stole eight guns, according to Seebaran. 

Six of the eight guns have been recovered. 

The other two suspects are still unidentified. 

A reward has been offered for anyone with information that leads to Gardner's arrest. Information may be given to Crime Stoppers anonymously at 404-577-TIPS.

---

UPDATE March 22, 3:50 p.m.: On March 22, CPD released videos of the burglary in progress. They also released a video of a person of interest in the theft.

CPD Captain Craig Treadwell said the second video was taken at the QT on Hwy-278 at Emory Street around 5:30 p.m. March 19. He said the video resulted from a cookie package found inside the wrecked vehicle.

According to Treadwell, the discarded Grandma’s cookie container was initially thought to be just trash in the vehicle but after CPD checked, they found that the cookies are sold at QT. They identified the time the cookies were sold and were able to get video of a male buying the cookies and paying for gas for a white GMC pick-up like the truck recovered from the creek.

According to Treadwell, Crime Stoppers will give $2,000 to the person who identifies the male in the video. Treadwell said that if you can identify him call Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at (404)577-TIPS (8477).

For the second time in 30 days, thieves have targeted Emergency Pawn.

According to a Covington Police Department (CPD) report, shortly before 3:20 a.m. March 20, CPD and Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) units responded to a burglar alarm at the business located at 5153 US Hwy-278 in Covington.

When they arrived at the scene, according to the report, units observed that the “front door had been snatched off of the building” and entry had been made. Officers reportedly entered the building and cleared it.

Owner Ed Turner said around 3 a.m. Monday morning, three black males used a white pick-up truck to ram the front doors of the pawn shop by backing into it. According to Turner, they initially rammed the doors and were unable to get through the security cage, so they rammed it a second time and gained entry.

Turner said that the thieves were only in the store for 20 seconds before leaving with AR- style rifles. When they pulled away from the building, according to Turner, they pulled the door frame with them.

CPD Public Information Officer (PIO) Allan Seebaran told the News that a responding officer observed the truck driving at a high rate of speed on Highway 278 and gave chase, but was unable to catch it. According to Seebaran, the officer saw the truck turn onto Pace Street.

Seebaran said the truck went into a creek near the Bethlehem Baptist Church. Responding units were reportedly unable to locate the three males, but were able to recover some of the stolen weapons as well as the truck. There were no reported injuries

Seebaran said that CPD detectives are currently following leads in the theft.

---

For the second time in 30 days, thieves have targeted Emergency Pawn.

According to a Covington Police Department (CPD) report, shortly before 3:20 a.m. March 20, CPD and Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) units responded to a burglar alarm at the business located at 5153 US Highway 278 in Covington.

When they arrived at the scene, according to the report, units observed the “front door had been snatched off of the building” and entry had been made. Officers reportedly entered the building and cleared it.

Owner Ed Turner said around 3 a.m. Monday morning, three black males used a white pick-up truck to ram the front doors of the pawn shop by backing into it. According to Turner, they initially rammed the doors and were unable to get through the security cage, so they rammed it a second time and gained entry.

Turner said that the thieves were only in the store for 20 seconds before leaving with AR- style rifles. When they pulled away from the building, according to Turner, they pulled the door frame with them.

CPD Public Information Officer Allan Seebaran said a responding officer observed the truck driving at a high rate of speed on Highway 278 and gave chase, but was unable to catch it. According to Seebaran, the officer saw the truck turn onto Pace Street.

Seebaran said the truck went into a creek near the Bethlehem Baptist Church. Responding units were reportedly unable to locate the three males, but were able to recover some of the stolen weapons as well as the truck. There were no reported injuries

Seebaran said CPD detectives are currently following leads in the theft.