Police, ATF agents descend on family-owned pawn shop in Lenoir

LENOIR, N.C. — Police and the ATF executed a search warrant Tuesday morning at a pawn shop in Lenoir.

Channel 9 was there as Lenoir Police, along with ATF agents, descended on the Whitnel Pawn Shop after obtaining a search warrant.

No items were removed from the business and no one has been taken into custody, according to Channel 9’s Dave Faherty, who has been on scene since 8 a.m. Tuesday.

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Police told Channel 9 a father and son own the pawn shop, but were not there when they executed the federal search warrant.

Neighboring businesses told Channel 9 the pawn shop sells firearms. Investigators confirmed part of the investigation is focused on the sale of firearms at the business.

Breaking Lenoir- police and ATF are executing a search warrant right now at the Whitnel Pawn Shop. pic.twitter.com/xzxzYbagYi
— Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) October 22, 2019

Joey Davis said he worked for the owner and was stunned by the number of federal agents at the business.

"I do work for Eddie and his son," Davis said. "They're Christian people. They go to church every Sunday. I hope nothing bad has happened.

Ronnie Miller said he has been a customer of the pawn shop before and his wife bought his wedding ring at the shop.

"It's crazy man," Miller said. "I mean I've never seen them up here. I've never seen them do this to any kind of pawn shop. They're real good people."