An arrest has been made in the burglary at Double Action that occurred on Dec. 23.
Chester Ray Alford, 19, of the 800 block of Carmons Road, Palmetto, was initially arrested by Eunice Police on Saturday on a warrant from Opelousas Police charging him with attempted second-degree murder, according to Eunice Police Lt. Ryan Young.
On Tuesday, Alford was arrested while in custody in the Eunice City jail and charged with 36 counts of firearm theft, simple burglary, criminal damage to property and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, Young said.
An arrest of a Opelousas juvenile was imminent Wednesday morning, he said.
The juvenile may be charged as an adult in the case, he said.
Police also planned an arrest of a second adult who has ties to Eunice, he said.
Police were not ready to identify the second adult suspect.
Young said the trio are suspects in numerous convenience store burglaries in Opelousas.
Eunice Police are being assisted in the investigation by Opelousas Police, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s deputies and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents, he said.
Young said four pistols have been recovered from the burglary.
On Dec. 28, one of the stolen pistols was found on a juvenile stopped for a curfew violation in Eunice, Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said earlier.
A second pistol from Double Action was recovered on a juvenile stopped by Opelousas Police.
Fontenot said 32 pistols ranging from .22 caliber to .45 caliber were stolen from Double Action.
Also stolen were two AR15-type weapons and two 12 gauge shotguns, he said.
About 5 a.m. police discovered the front door of the building broken. They also found the power had been cut to the business.
Fontenot said the juveniles are being charged with possession of stolen property in Opelousas.
Young urged gun owners to responsibly secure their firearms, record serial numbers and photograph them.
