In a landmark legal action, the attorneys general of Washington, D.C., and Maryland have filed a lawsuit against three gun shops accused of selling firearms that were later trafficked into the nation’s capital and used in violent crimes. The suit, filed Tuesday, alleges that these stores ignored red flags and failed to prevent illegal straw purchases that contributed to the city’s ongoing gun violence crisis.
Weapons Trafficked into DC Linked to Crime Scenes
The lawsuit claims that nearly three dozen firearms sold by the gun shops were trafficked by Demetrius Minor, with at least nine of those guns later found at crime scenes or in the possession of individuals wanted for violent offenses. Many of the remaining weapons are still unaccounted for, raising concerns about their potential use in future crimes.
“Our city is being flooded with illegal weapons,” said D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb. “All three of these stores ignored the red flags.”
Washington, D.C., has struggled with escalating gun violence, recording its highest number of homicides in over three decades last year. The majority of these homicides involved firearms, according to the lawsuit.
Legal Action Seeks to Halt Straw Purchases
The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages and court orders to prevent future straw purchases, marks the first joint legal action by the attorneys general of D.C. and Maryland. It follows a growing trend of cities and states across the country filing civil suits against gun shops believed to be complicit in illegal firearm sales.
“Many of us watch the news and wonder where all these guns are coming from,” said Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown. “Now we have part of the answer.”
According to data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), about 95% of guns recovered in Washington, D.C., originate from neighboring states like Maryland and Virginia. While some of these firearms are stolen, many are obtained through illegal straw purchases, where someone legally buys a gun on behalf of a person prohibited from purchasing firearms.
Industry Response and Legal Defense
Larry Keane, senior vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, an industry group, defended licensed firearm dealers, stating that they work closely with the ATF to identify and prevent straw purchases. However, Keane acknowledged that warning signs might not always be apparent, especially in busy stores.
“The focus should be on the actions of the criminal, not trying to scapegoat retailers who do their best every day to try to prevent straw purchasing,” Keane said.
The lawsuit, filed in collaboration with the gun safety group Everytown Law, specifically accuses the three Maryland-based stores—Atlantic Guns, Inc., United Gun Shop, and Engage Armament LLC—of failing to act on clear warning signs, such as bulk and repetitive purchases. The stores sold nearly three dozen similar firearms to Minor over a seven-month period in 2021, many of which were trafficked to individuals prohibited from buying guns.
