Two teenagers have been apprehended following a burglary at a gun store in Pflugerville, where 34 firearms were stolen on July 2. The suspects, both linked to the crime, were arrested after a thorough investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
One of the suspects, a 15-year-old, had two active warrants and a troubling history of burglaries and firearms offenses. The break-in at GT Distributors occurred around 4:30 a.m., prompting a response from Pflugerville police after an alarm was triggered.
Upon arrival, officers spotted two individuals crouching behind a parked SUV. The suspects quickly entered the vehicle and fled the scene, passing directly in front of the officers. Notably, the SUV had distinctive features, including a personalized license plate, five-spoke alloy wheels, and a unique blue paint job.
Investigators found that the back door of GT Distributors had been shattered with a large rock, and several firearm display cases had been broken into, leaving shattered glass strewn across the floor. Surveillance footage captured the suspects arriving in a blue Audi SUV, using the rock to smash the door glass and access the display cases, where they concealed firearms in their pockets.
The suspects made several trips between the display cases and their vehicle, attempting to break into more cases before making their escape. A license plate reader later indicated that the stolen SUV had been spotted in Round Rock approximately an hour before the burglary. Further inquiries revealed that the vehicle had been reported stolen to Austin police.
Subsequent investigation connected the 15-year-old to the crime through fingerprint evidence found on a door handle of the stolen vehicle. Law enforcement officials obtained photographs of the teenager from Austin ISD police, who were familiar with him due to previous cases. These photos, posted on social media, displayed the teen with firearms and large amounts of cash.
In addition to social media activity, police discovered a Telegram account associated with the teenager, which linked him to another robbery incident. Further monitoring revealed additional photographs of the teen driving various stolen vehicles, including a Lexus and the Audi involved in the gun store burglary.
Another suspect, 17-year-old Jacob Vallejo, was identified as living in an apartment complex frequented by the 15-year-old. Vallejo had a prior arrest related to a robbery at the same complex. Surveillance footage showed the stolen Audi visiting the complex multiple times, with individuals entering and exiting frequently.
On August 13, a search warrant was executed at the apartment, where Vallejo admitted that firearms were being stored for a “friend,” referring to the 15-year-old. He acknowledged that the guns were likely stolen, stating that they had been taken during “car hopping,” a term for temporarily stealing vehicles.
Law enforcement recovered multiple firearms, including Glock handguns and ammunition, from the apartment. At the time of his arrest, the 15-year-old faced charges for robbery and possession of a prohibited weapon, while Vallejo was charged with theft of a firearm and possession of a prohibited weapon, with a combined bond set at $15,000.
Vallejo is required to comply with specific bond conditions, including maintaining distance from the gun store, electronic monitoring, and surrendering all firearms. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to address related incidents in the area.
