ATF Offers $5,000 Reward for Information in Stockton Bank Robbery and Shooting

Stockton, Calif – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Riehl and Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones, today announced that ATF is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for transferring the AK-type rifle to the suspects involved in the Stockton bank robbery and shooting that occurred on July 16.

On July 16 three armed suspects robbed the Bank of the West located at 7810 Thornton Road, Stockton, California and stole an undisclosed sum of US currency. The suspects took three women hostage, two were bank employees and one was a bank customer. The suspects kidnapped the women and led Officers with the Stockton Police Department on an hour long pursuit using one of the hostage’s vehicles. During the pursuit the suspects fired hundreds of rounds at police and the community. Two of the hostages either jumped out or were pushed out of the vehicle during the pursuit, each of these hostages sustained gunshot wounds and are recovering. Police ended the pursuit by shooting out the tires of the suspect vehicle.

Two of the suspects and the third hostage were killed. The remaining suspect survived and was taken into custody. No other civilians or law enforcement personnel were injured; however, approximately seventeen police vehicles sustained damage from gunfire.

Law enforcement seized a total of four firearms from the suspects. These firearms included three semi-automatic handguns, at least one of which was stolen, and one AK-type rifle. ATF has submitted urgent traces for three of the four firearms.

The AK-type rifle has no markings and is believed to have been manufactured by an unlicensed manufacturer. These types of firearms are commonly referred to as 80% firearms, ghost guns or home built firearms. Because they are not manufactured by a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL), they generally have no markings or serial numbers and there are no records for law enforcement to use in the investigation of crimes related to these firearms.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Stockton Field Office is working in conjunction with the Stockton Police Department to trace the acquisition, transfer and possession of all of the firearms used in this robbery. Any violation of state or federal law documented during the investigation will be referred to the United States Attorney’s Office or the San Joaquin County District Attorney.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call the Stockton ATF Field Office, ATF Gun Hotline, or the Stockton Police Department at the numbers listed below:

ATF Stockton Field Office: 209-954-9433

ATF Gun Hotline: 800-283-4867

Stockton Police Department Crime Stoppers: 209-946-0600

All information will be treated confidentially and the callers will remain anonymous if they request.

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating criminal activities involving firearms.