Lake Elsinore, Murrieta Men Stole 300 Firearms From SoCal Shops: Feds

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Five Riverside County men — four from Lake Elsinore and one from Murrieta — are facing a federal charge of taking part in a series of burglaries and attempted burglaries at firearms stores across Southern California, pilfering more than 300 weapons, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Cross Arjay Goree, 18, Caine Aiden Goree, 22, Brendan Markel Hawkins, 19, and Kendall Eric Johnson, 23, and Calvin Logan Gray, 18, of Murrieta, were charged along with Kenneth Gilmore III, 19, of Las Vegas, with conspiracy to steal firearms from the premises of a federal firearms licensee, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

All six defendants were in state custody pending their expected appearance Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Santa Ana.

Federal prosecutors said the defendants would use stolen vehicles to ram storefronts of firearms dealers, then smash display cases, steal weapons and flee in other stolen vehicles.

According to an affidavit, nine firearms stores were targeted beginning last fall. The most recent alleged heist occurred July 13:

• Chaparral Coin and Gun in Murrieta, 43 firearms were stolen on October 9, 2023;
• Poway Weapons and Gear in Poway, 78 firearms were stolen on March 25, 2024;
• Ammo Bros in Ontario, attempted theft on June 12, 2024;
• Fallbrook Guns and Ammo in Fallbrook, attempted theft on June 13, 2024;
• Firearms Unknown in Oceanside, 33 firearms were stolen on June 17, 2024;
• Ammo Bros in Riverside, 25 firearms were stolen on June 18, 2024;
• Camarillo Gun Store in Camarillo, 63 firearms were stolen on July 1, 2024;
• Smokin Barrel Gun Store in Simi Valley, attempted theft on July 9, 2024; and
• Fowler’s Gun Room in Orange, 70 firearms were stolen on July 13, 2024.

According to the criminal complaint, the stolen weapons were being sold on the black market, and some were discovered in the possession of other people during separate criminal investigations.

On Saturday, law enforcement served a warrant at a Lake Elsinore residence believed to be the location where the Gorees and Johnson lived, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. When officers arrived and announced their presence, Gilmore and Cross allegedly tried to flee from the back of the residence but were quickly apprehended.

Law enforcement carrying out the search and allegedly found nearly 50 weapons that had been stolen in four of the heists, prosecutors said.

If convicted, the defendants would each face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.