The Kill Devil Hills Police Department has reported that on November 22, children playing in a wooded area near a residence in the 100 block of Camellia Drive found a backpack containing two stolen guns; a third gun in the backpack is also believed to have been stolen. The backpack contained other items include food and clothing.

Two of the guns had been reported as stolen from unlocked vehicles in the Kill Devil Hills area in July of this year. The first, a 9 mm Springfield XD Mod 2, was stolen on July 11 from the 1500 block of N. Virginia Dare Trail. The second, a .40 caliber Glock 27 handgun, was reported stolen on July 21 from a residence in the 1800 block of N. Virginia Dare Trail. Investigators are still working to identify the origins of the third gun in the backpack, a Ruger handgun. All of the guns were loaded.

The children who found the guns ranged from age 10-12 years old. Upon finding the guns in the backpack, they immediately notified an adult, who reported the discovery to the police department. KDHPD “would like to compliment the children (and their parents) for handling this dangerous incident in the most responsible way possible. While the blame for this situation principally rests with the individual who stole the guns and left them in an area accessible to children, the Department strongly encourages gun owners to better secure their weapons. Leaving guns in an unlocked vehicle is irresponsible especially in light of the well-publicized reports of guns frequently stolen from unlocked cars in Dare County. Thankfully, on this occasion, the levelheaded decisions of the young people who found the guns prevented an unthinkable tragedy.”

The investigation into the theft of the guns continues, including fingerprint and DNA analysis.

MORE NEWS:

Rescue squad brings in windsurfer

Kitty Hawk council deadline Wednesday