On Tuesday, over a hundred guns were put on display as two Benton Harbor men, Darnell Bishop and Dontrell Nance, were charged for an alleged robbery at Dunham’s Sports. According to U.S. Attorney Mark Totten, the charges include robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee, and knowingly possessing stolen firearms.
The duo allegedly held the store’s manager at gunpoint outside of his home, forcing him into handcuffs and a blindfold before kidnapping him. They then forced him to disclose the store’s security information, took his keys, and robbed the store of over 120 handguns. By the following Friday, investigators had found all but one of the stolen guns after searching homes and cars connected to Bishop and Nance.
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten stated, “It is no secret that we are experiencing an epidemic of gun violence across the nation, across the State of Michigan, and right here in Benton Harbor. Fueling this epidemic is a massive influx of illegal guns into our communities. What happened at Dunham Sport’s on the evening of November 16th is a striking example of what is driving this crisis and we fully intend to satisfy our burden and prove this case.”
The federal criminal complaint against Bishop and Nance outlines the charges they are facing for the alleged kidnapping and theft of firearms. If convicted, they could face up to life in prison, although it is currently unknown when the pair are due back in court.