ATF: Trooper's killer may have bought gun at show
PORT ORCHARD, Wash. (AP) - Recently released records show that the felon who shot and killed Washington State Trooper Tony Radulescu in February likely inherited the murder weapon from his father or bought it at a gun show.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced the .40 caliber Smith & Wesson to its last documented sale, at a Monroe gun show in 2009, The Kitsap Sun reported, citing documents released by the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office.
From there, it changed hands at least twice without documentation, the ATF determined. The second time, a man who bought the gun in Monroe told agents he's 99 percent sure he later sold the weapon to Joshua Blake at a Port Angeles gun show. Blake shot and killed the trooper on Feb. 23 during a traffic stop. He used the same gun to kill himself later that day.
The seller's name and hometown were not included in the report. He described himself as a private collector, not a licensed dealer, and told agents he was "committed to following the law and tries to comply with all regulations."
He described his process to agents for selling guns at the shows, including filling out a receipt, checking ID and signing a form declaring the buyer was not prohibited from having guns. But he couldn't find a receipt for the sale of the Smith and Wesson.
And when asked if Blake mentioned during the sale that he was a felon and not allowed to possess firearms, the seller said: "Absolutely not."
An ATF agent "explained to him the value of holding onto those records so he wouldn't have to remember the different sales," the documents say.
The man told agents that if he "somehow broke the law by helping Blake obtain a firearm, he would face the consequences willingly," ATF agents reported.
But citing an account from one of Blake's acquaintances, the ATF's report also notes that it could have been Blake's father who bought the gun, and that Blake might have inherited it when his father died about a year before the shooting. It's also possible that Blake and his father attended the Port Angeles gun show together.
Six people were ultimately charged with rendering criminal assistance for their roles in Blake's flight from law enforcement before he killed himself. Five were convicted of that crime, with a sixth convicted of making false statements to a public official. Each was sentenced to jail or prison in lengths varying from six to 14 months.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced the .40 caliber Smith & Wesson to its last documented sale, at a Monroe gun show in 2009, The Kitsap Sun reported, citing documents released by the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office.
From there, it changed hands at least twice without documentation, the ATF determined. The second time, a man who bought the gun in Monroe told agents he's 99 percent sure he later sold the weapon to Joshua Blake at a Port Angeles gun show. Blake shot and killed the trooper on Feb. 23 during a traffic stop. He used the same gun to kill himself later that day.
The seller's name and hometown were not included in the report. He described himself as a private collector, not a licensed dealer, and told agents he was "committed to following the law and tries to comply with all regulations."
He described his process to agents for selling guns at the shows, including filling out a receipt, checking ID and signing a form declaring the buyer was not prohibited from having guns. But he couldn't find a receipt for the sale of the Smith and Wesson.
And when asked if Blake mentioned during the sale that he was a felon and not allowed to possess firearms, the seller said: "Absolutely not."
An ATF agent "explained to him the value of holding onto those records so he wouldn't have to remember the different sales," the documents say.
The man told agents that if he "somehow broke the law by helping Blake obtain a firearm, he would face the consequences willingly," ATF agents reported.
But citing an account from one of Blake's acquaintances, the ATF's report also notes that it could have been Blake's father who bought the gun, and that Blake might have inherited it when his father died about a year before the shooting. It's also possible that Blake and his father attended the Port Angeles gun show together.
Six people were ultimately charged with rendering criminal assistance for their roles in Blake's flight from law enforcement before he killed himself. Five were convicted of that crime, with a sixth convicted of making false statements to a public official. Each was sentenced to jail or prison in lengths varying from six to 14 months.
If it was a gun show in Monroe put on by WAC (Washington Arms Collectors) he did not get it there without a background check.  All gun shows in Washington put on by WAC require a background check. In order to purchase or even handle a firearm at one of those gun shows you have to be a member of WAC displaying your WAC photo ID. You cannot be a member of WAC without first getting a background check or having a concealed carry license, which required a background check.
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Before you make a speculative accusation you should do your homework.  Was the gun show you mentioned a WAC sponsored one or not?Â
@Nitroxman
I got a little ticked at that dig myself. We have very strict security, both identified and unmarked. You may not touch a firearm if your badge is not showing. To become a member we all have passed the full background check required for the purchase of a firearm from a FFL dealer. He did not get it there period!  If it was Monroe, it is almost 100% that it was the WAC event.
Spoons sold at a local gagarge sale suspected of making new ownwer fat.
Probably bought it from a private party, not related to any gunshow... The how he got it will be very hard to prove.. so, they are just saying it to put more blame on gunshows, in an effort to work toward ending them.
Would you feel better if he was killed by a sword that may have been purchased at a renaissance fair? The killer MAY have gotten it from a federal agent as well.
After the Fast and the Furious scandal I don't trust anything coming out of the ATF.
 @skulls98040 Don't forget WACO.
In other news not related. IN the last 24 hour period a person was killed every 12 minutes a person on one of the many roadways in the United States of America. Now back to our regularly scheduled lack of news.
This has "Ken Schram" written all over it. He's the KOMO staffer who gets hysterical about the extremely rare and never documented "Gunshow Loophole" on his radio show.
 @Glassman Doubt it. Just wait, it will come out that the got the gun from his dad. No "gunshow loophole" this time.
So he might have bought the gun or he might have inherited it or he might have gotten it from space aliens....How about actually finding out before reporting it?
 @Mag Thomas This was posted first on www.kitsapsun.com and KOMO linked to the article
First off, at Monroe you have to be a member to even pick up a firearm. All members have passed the FBI check that is required to purchase from any licensed dealer. He could not have purchased from the Monroe show period! Second, the âFast and Furiousâ ATF has no business trying to cast aspersions. One of their illegally transferred firearms, transferred with their full knowledge and assistance, killed a US Boarder Parole Agent. If he purchased this handgun at another event, that is no reason to even mention the Monroe show. I have purchased a handgun through the little nickel.          Â
KOMO, all you did was report speculation. This isn't news gathering. This is called spreading rumors.
Someone wanted to know who would "Knowingly sell a gun to a Bad Guy"... How about the federal gov.??? They sold or gave a whole boat load to the mexican cartel !!!!
Are you kidding me? The gun could have come from anywhere. I have said it before and I'll say it again. BAD GUYS WILL GET GUNS NO MATTER THE LAW OR IF THEY WERE BAN ALL TOGETHER. KOMO shame on you for a slow news day story like this.Â
Realy?
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'likely inherited the murder weapon from his father or bought it at a gun show'?
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I'm thinking the perp got it from his dog. Maybe from the neighbors cat. Those cats are EVIL!
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Do you have any idea how pathetic this makes you look KOMO?
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Long article full of speculation.Â
Holder should investigate this. You know... after they're done investigating him.
What a HUGE waste of taxpayer money. We paid government officials to play duck duck goose for 6 months to find out where the gun was bought? And after all that time and money spent they still failed to figure it out? The person guilty of the murder is dead. Why go on this witch hunt? What's to be gained here?
 @dorimonsonfan Yep. Trooper killed by perp. Perp killed by self. Case closed. Nothing more to do to prevent repeat... NOT!
A felon got hold of a gun and used it to murder. Even the NRA nuts say that is not supposed to happen. So now We the People want to know how and so close the loophole - and the NRA just wants "tougher laws" to "punish" the dead perp! It's like, "Get that dead guy and lock him up for the rest of his life!"
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Which technique do you suppose will actually work?
 @JLS1950  @dorimonsonfan No "techniques" work in gun control because gun control does not work, ever. Criminals will always get guns. That is why decent people need to have guns in order to shoot back. There has never been a mass murder committed at an NRA convention because the perp knows that the minute he shoots there will be a dozen guns firing back at him.
 @Donacita  @dorimonsonfan Must be really tasty Kool Aid.
Statistically, a privately-owned handgun is more likely to be used (whether willfully or accidentally) to injure or kill a family member, loved one, neighbor or visitor - or to be taken and used against oneself - than it is to be used for successful self-defense. Doubt that you will ever believe that unless and until is happens to you, however.
 @JLS1950  @dorimonsonfan Well I can't say I speak for the NRA but clearly you don't because what you claim they was is bull cookies.Â
 @dorimonsonfan There was no point to digging for Hoffa either, with so many better skilled, more forceful mob bosses at union disposal.
May have? does this mean the killer may not have as well?
Does it really matter exactly where he got the gun now? I fail to see why this is news.
Doesn't  matter whether you buy a gun off of craigslist or from a private party at a gun show, there are no legal limitations to who you can sell the gun to. I suppose they could start issuing titles to guns like they do cars but you would still have a couple hundred million guns around the country that wouldn't have titles. And even if you made all guns illegal criminals would still get them which would leave citizens unprotected. The 2nd amendment is there for a reason. Every citizen in the country has the right to be responsible for their own safety and only a gun can do that.
Moral of the story: Â Outlaws will always find a way to get a gun.
 @Tim Lane That is true. I still like the idea that it gets harder for them. I love my guns, but I can pass a background check and I can wait the legal time frame. I don't want anyone with a history of violence against other people getting them, though I know they will if they are determined. I just think they should have to work harder at it and run the risk of attempting to buy from an undercover law enforcement officer, and never be able to just go to a gun shop or Wal-Mart and get them. Gun shows are fine, they should just have to follow the same rules as any other gun seller.
 @two loons Totally agree with you.
Really, so at a gun show, potential buyers only need sign a statement attesting that they are not barred from buying a gun -- it's that easy??? So anyone who doesn't mind lying about it could purchase a gun at a gun show. No wonder there are so many gun owners out there who are unfit to own a gun.  That purchase process needs to change.
 @felines99 You need to have a CWP or wait the five days during which a background check is done on you before you can buy a gun at a gun show.
 @Gino Not true. According to a 1986 federal law, only people who are in the business of dealing firearms must do criminal background checks at gun shows. Individuals not in the business of dealing firearms need do no background check or even keep a record of the sales which take place at gun shows. On a statewide basis, only seven states require background checks on all gun sales at gun shows. Four states require background checks on all hundgun, but not long gun, purchases at gun shows. And six states require the buyer to have a permit which involves a background check. The remaining thirty-three states do not restrict sales of firearms at gun shows in any manner.
 @SeattleJoe  @felines99  @Gino I read that about the WAC events. If I ever want to sell one of my guns, or buy one from someone who is not a dealer, it sounds like the best place to go without worrying about a buyer's legality.
 @felines99  @Gino However in this case the gun show in question was in Monroe which means its a WAC event. In this case, in order to purchase a weapon you must be a member of the WAC. To become a member you must, each year pay a renewal fee and pass the background check. So, for him to have bought it at the show he would have passed the background check within the last year so the argument about "gun show loopholes" does not apply in this case.Â
 @Gino  @felines99 Only if the seller were a gun dealer. If I were selling a gun (not at a show. say, at my shooting club) to someone else, how would I do a background check? That access is restricted to gun dealers.
 @felines99 Which means one cannot buy a gun from even a family member.
 @LockesChild Sure one can-- as long as one is not a felon or otherwise prohibited from having a gun.
 @LockesChild  @felines99 Only in the sense that the national database is not researched by the public, who just give the id. Or burglars
would know every gun owner that even applies.
 @felines99 and how do I know that? Access to the national database is restricted.
What kind of evil maniac would sell a pistol to a violent convicted felon?
 @Whobeke An unconvicted one.
 @Whobeke "And when asked if Blake mentioned during the sale that he was a felon and not allowed to possess firearms, the seller said: "Absolutely not.""
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"But citing an account from one of Blake's acquaintances, the ATF's report also notes that it could have been Blake's father who bought the gun, and that Blake might have inherited it when his father died about a year before the shooting."
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It is in the article.
 @LockesChild  @Whobeke And isn't it strange that there is NOT ONE THING in this nation so easy to administrate as an inheritance.
 @FreeCoffeeNow!  @LockesChild  @Whobeke Indeed. Its one thing the government does well, inheritance taxes....
Most of them start out as legal guns, so the arguments from the NRA hold no water.Â
 @Citizen#3457899654 Right. Make that case.
 @Citizen#3457899654 Whether or not the NRA has issue here, those citizens that are members do.
Ready and on line. Now that the richest have armed themselves and given themselves carry nationally and bought their Halliburton hit teams; it's time to remove that pesky Right to keep and bear for the populace.
wow
 @FreeCoffeeNow! ???????