A man has pleaded guilty after federal authorities say he stole a gun from a New York Walmart and fled into the woods as employees chased him.
A 30-year-old man from Troy, New York, is accused of stealing six firearms and pointing the guns at an employee who chased him, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York announced in an Oct. 27 news release. .
He pleaded guilty on October 27 to one count of theft from a licensed firearms dealer, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, according to a plea agreement.
McClatchy News could not immediately reach the man’s attorney.
According to the plea agreement, on May 10, 2022, at approximately 1:20 a.m., the man entered a closed Walmart in Glenmont, New York, wearing a black ski mask and a black sweatshirt.
He used a fire extinguisher to shatter a glass display case containing firearms, taking five shotguns and a rifle, documents said.
Officials said the man dropped a gun inside the store as he fled toward the woods behind the building, and Walmart employees gave chase.
According to the plea agreement, he pointed one of the guns at the employees after realizing he was “following them with cell phone cameras.”
He eventually dropped the gun and fled the scene entirely, officials said. When police arrived, they reported finding five guns as well as a ski mask and sweatshirt with his DNA imprinted on them.
Hours later, the man returned to the woods to retrieve the gun, but police had already taken it, according to the petition.
According to the agreement, he was charged in April and initially pleaded not guilty, but later reversed his claim. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February, officials said.
Walmart did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment.
Glenmont is approximately eight miles south of downtown Albany.
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