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2 men take stolen guns to Gaston County high school basketball game, police say

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Two men are accused of taking stolen guns to a basketball game Friday night at Ashbrook High School.

Police said Jaquais Barnett was expelled from Ashbrook High School and was told to leave the game against Hunter Huss High School.

(Jaquais Barnett)

Authorities said Barnett came back to the school two hours later with Shawn Davis. Police arrested the two men.

Officers said they found stolen firearms on both men.

(Shawn Davis)

The guns were stolen from American Tactical Pawn Shop in Shelby on Nov. 26 and authorities want to know if the two suspects stole them, police said.

The robbers that shattered a glass case and stole 10 guns.

Police said it was an eye-opening discovery following a series of gun store break-ins.

"A lot of people think these guns are just leaving the area,” Gaston County Police Department Capt. Curtis Rosselle said. “Well, it tells you they are staying here and they are around our kids."

American Tactical co-owner Keith Queen was disappointed that the guns that were meant to sell legally, ended up in the wrong hands.

"That's really concerning," Queen said.

He was relieved that the arrests bring officers one step closer to finding the people who broke into his shop.

"Every piece that is put together, makes it better for us figuring out where the guns went, and who took them," Queen said.

One other gun was seized a few weeks ago during a drug arrest in Gastonia.

"Realize what you are doing with your lives,” Queen said. “You are taking other people's lives in jeopardy when you do it."

Barnett and Davis are charged with possession of a stolen firearm and bringing a firearm onto educational property. They’re in jail on a $50,000 bonds.

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