Nearly three dozen guns stolen in St. Augustine burglary, person of interest in custody

A person of interest in the burglary of a St. Augustine gun store has now been caught in Edgewater, Florida.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office incident report says SJSO responded to Top Gun Supply on State Road 16 early Monday morning, because alarms had been triggered. SJSO found the front glass door was smashed, as were multiple glass counters in the store, according to the report. Investigators say 34 guns were stolen.

A sweep of the scene yielded no suspects, but SJSO says surveillance video shows three suspects committing the burglary, stuffing the guns in to duffel bags, and leaving the scene. The incident report further shows there was some possible DNA evidence collected at the scene.

SJSO now confirms that soon after the burglary, they became aware that a vehicle stolen from Fort Pierce was seen in the area around the time of the burglary. SJSO asked surrounding law enforcement to be on the lookout, and on Tuesday, Edgewater Police spotted the vehicle and initiated a stop.

Edgewater Police deployed stop sticks on the vehicle, and when it ran flat, the driver fled. Investigators say that driver, who’s now identified as 23-year-old Ronald Salley Jr., of Orlando, threw a gun as he ran from the vehicle. SJSO says that gun has come back as a match for the St. Augustine burglary.

SJSO traveled to central Florida to try to interview Salley, but we’re told he invoked his right to remain silent and requested an attorney.

Salley has been booked in to the Volusia County Jail on a number of charges, including reckless driving, grand theft of a motor vehicle, grand theft of a firearm, fleeing law enforcement, and more. At this time, he has not been arrested for the gun store burglary, but SJSO says he is considered a person of interest.

Surveillance footage from the gun store showed a total of three suspects involved. At this time, SJSO says they continue investigating who else is involved.

Edgewater Police say there was a woman and her two-year-old child in the stolen car, when it was stopped. Investigators say she was arrested as well, and jail records show she faces a charge for a small amount of cannabis. SJSO says they are speaking with that woman, as part of their investigation.

Top Gun Supply St. Augustine posted on their Facebook late Tuesday that they are back to normal business hours.