Columbus police recover gun stolen from firearms shop

April 17, 2019 John Clark

Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

Gary L. Gillis. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

Columbus police have recovered a gun stolen from a local gun store last year and arrested the person who had it.

Officers received tips that led them to obtain a search warrant for a home in the 2200 block of Park Avenue. During a search Tuesday afternoon, they found the stolen gun in a tent occupied by 52-year-old Gary L. GIllis of Columbus. He was taken into custody without incident. He is facing charges of theft and possession of a handgun by a serious violent felon.

The gun was a collectible Les Baer Custom .45 caliber pistol that had been reported stolen from Watson Chambers Defense Institute in July.