Officer arrived at the scene and met with the victim who was identified as an off-duty federal law enforcement officer who was staying in the hotel over the weekend. The victim related that he had left the hotel room and returned to discover his off-duty .40 caliber handgun and several items of personal property were missing and believed stolen.
During the on-scene investigation, police were able to view the hotel video surveillance system which further helped identified a suspect. The description of the suspect was broadcast to other police officers in the area.
Within 30 minutes of the initial report of the theft, officers located a suspect at 8th Street and the boardwalk. Officers detained the suspect who was identified as Jeffery Lynn King, 19, of Bridgeville Delaware. Police recovered a loaded .40 caliber handgun from King’s waist band, which they subsequently confirmed was the stolen handgun.
Additionally officers recovered several items of property belonging to the victim, which were stolen during the burglary of the hotel room. It was determined that King fired the handgun in the hotel room during the burglary.
King was arrested and charged as follows:
- 1st Degree Burglary
- 3rd Degree Burglary
- 4th Degree Burglary
- Possession of a Handgun
- Reckless Endangerment $1000.00
- Discharging a Firearm within Ocean City
Submitted:
Ocean City Police Dept.