CT man faces 38 firearm theft charges in Newington gun store burglary

A Willimantic man faces more than three dozen felony firearm theft charges in connection with a burglary at a Newington gun store last month.

Kwitzpatrick Duffany, 35, was charged Thursday in a burglary at Hoffman Gun Center at 2686 Berlin Turnpike on May 27 when “several guns” and cash were stolen, according to the Newington Police Department.

Duffany faces 38 counts of theft of a firearm and a single count each of first-degree larceny, first-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal possession of ammunition, Newington police said Friday. He was arrested at New Britain Superior Court after investigators obtained a warrant in connection with the Hoffman burglary, according to police.

During Duffany’s arraignment hearing Thursday, a judge lowered his bond from $250,000 to $175,000, judicial records indicate. He remained in custody as of Friday, records showed.

On May 27, Newington police officers responded to Hoffman Gun Center at about 7:40 a.m. after an employee there reported a burglary. Police at the time said they initially believed the suspect was still in the store, prompting the Newington Police Department Emergency Response Team to respond to the gun center.

Authorities ultimately discovered the suspect was not in the store as was initially believed.

Newington police on Friday said their investigation remains ongoing and have asked anyone with information to contact investigators at 860-666-8445.