Gun Shop Linked to Ambush Had Been Closed for Violations

WASHINGTON — A weapon recovered near a sniper’s ambush at Ft. Bragg, N.C., was bought at a Maryland shop that federal and state officials say has provided guns connected with numerous crimes, a government source said Sunday.

A 9-millimeter Glock pistol found at the scene of the shootings Friday was purchased from the Freestate Arms and Munitions gun shop in Temple Hills, Md., in 1990, said the government source, who spoke on condition of not being further identified.

Army Sgt. William J. Kreutzer, 26, of Clinton, Md., is listed as the purchaser of the gun, said the source. Kreutzer is the suspect in the shootings that left one dead and 18 injured at the Army base.

After an investigation by Maryland state police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the owner of the gun shop, Jay F. Brooking, 39, of Silver Spring, Md., was arrested Sept. 27 on charges of having an expired firearms license and selling weapons without having conducted the required background checks.

“Gun traces conducted by ATF agents have found that in the past 18 months, the last recorded point of sale for more than 100 weapons recovered in crimes was the Freestate Arms and Munitions store,” said a news release issued by Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening on the day of the shop owner’s arrest.

“The crimes include 10 homicides and three assaults, including an assault on a police officer,” it said.

State troopers who served a search warrant at the gun store on Sept. 27 said they recovered more than 100 weapons.

The store was closed by Maryland authorities because the owner had not renewed his license. Authorities said it had been operating without a Maryland firearms dealers license since July 1.