Allegany County: Multiple bandits clean out Shongo store of all its weapons

WILLING - Sometime between midnight today and 8:30 a.m., bandits, possibly three of them, cleaned out the Shongo General Store on Hawks Road of its entire gun inventory. Brian Jones owns the store and said the crooks forcibly entered the store through a rear door just before 1 a.m. "They cleaned me out," Jones said. The owner said 18 guns were taken, to include shotguns, riffles and handguns. Jones said "they also took some cash and accessories." Jones said he was 'impressed' by the state police response which included both uniformed troopers and criminal investigators. The ATF was also notified. Jones said the store is under constant video surveillance and as many as three thieves were captured in camera at about 12:57 a.m. He said one gun was actually dropped on the ground as the bandits left. "They may have left fingerprints," Jones said. The store has been in operation since 2004 and this is the first time there has been a gun theft.