On the morning of Saturday, December 7, 2024, at approximately 7:43 a.m., Sergeant Roland Brown of the Desha County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported burglary at a gunsmith shop on Turner Neal Road. Upon arrival, the business owner directed Sgt. Brown to a side window that had been broken, indicating the point of forced entry.
Shortly thereafter, Investigator Alan Hernandez and Sheriff Mitch Grant arrived on scene. Surveillance footage retrieved from the property showed four suspects breaking a surveillance camera and forcibly entering the building around 4:30 a.m. that morning. The suspects were observed breaking into a gun case, removing several long guns and numerous pistols, along with multiple boxes of ammunition.
Investigator Hernandez requested the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). ATF agents provided critical support by uncovering digital evidence from social media and cellphone data. They also helped enhance surveillance footage into clear still images, which aided significantly in identifying the suspects involved.
As the investigation progressed, Investigator Hernandez was able to gather further evidence, conduct interviews, and recover some of the stolen firearms. On March 4, 2025, this led to the arrest of 20-year-old Roderick Blackmon of McGehee. A month later, on April 7, 2025, charges were filed against two additional suspects: 18-year-old Jamarcus Dupree and 19-year-old Johntavious Owens, both also of McGehee.
All three individuals have been charged with Commercial Burglary and 13 counts of Theft of a Firearm.
A fourth suspect, 20-year-old Breion Edwards of Springfield, Illinois, remains at large. A warrant for his arrest has been issued. Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Breion Edwards to contact the Desha County Criminal Investigation Division at (870) 222-0933.
The investigation continues.
