Reports: Rifle Stolen From Renee Ellmers’ N.C. Home
Last week, while Rep. Renee Ellmers was on Capitol Hill debating legislation to reopen government and raise the debt ceiling, an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and a number of other items were stolen from her home in Dunn, N.C.
Local news outlets and The Associated Press reported Tuesday that on Oct. 16 a number of items were stolen from the North Carolina Republican’s unlocked garage — including the unsecured rifle.
According to the AP, “an investigative report released Tuesday by the Dunn Police Department says officers were called to the Republican lawmaker’s home last week after her husband noticed the rifle was missing. The weapon was last seen the prior day, leaning against a gun safe in the home’s garage.”
Ellmers spokesman Tom Doheny could not confirm that a gun was among those possessions taken from the second-term lawmaker’s residence.
“I can confirm that there was a break-in to the Congresswoman’s house and that several items were stolen,” Doheny said in an emailed statement to CQ Roll Call. “Since this is an ongoing investigation I’m not at liberty to disclose any other information at this time. As you can imagine, the Ellmers family is shaken by these events and is working with law enforcement to make sure those responsible are found and brought to justice.”
Officer Shennell Antrobus, a spokesman from the U.S. Capitol Police, said that while the agency was “notified of the theft … the investigation is being handled by local law enforcement.”
Hannah Hess contributed to this report.