ATF revokes license of gun dealer tied to Newtown

Lee Higgins, The (Westchester County, N.Y.) Journal News | USATODAY

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has permanently revoked the federal firearms license of East Windsor, Conn., gun store owner David LaGuercia, whose shop reportedly sold guns used in the Newtown, Conn., school massacre and a second Connecticut mass shooting.

ATF spokeswoman Deb Seifert told The (Westchester County, N.Y.) Journal News on Thursday that the agency permanently revoked LaGuercia's license to sell firearms, but said she could not be more specific on the reasons. It was revoked Dec. 20 and the 60-day time frame to appeal has expired.

"It's been revoked," Seifert said. "It's final at this point."

Seifert declined to comment on any criminal investigation into Riverview Gun Sales, which ATF agents raided in December, days after the Dec. 14 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School left 26 dead. She referred questions on any criminal probe to U.S. Attorney's office spokesman Tom Carson, who could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Citing anonymous sources, The Hartford Courant has reported that the guns used in the Newtown massacre, including a Bushmaster rifle, and the mass shooting at Hartford Distributors Inc. in 2010 that left eight dead were both bought legally at LaGuercia's gun shop.

On Thursday, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy signed the nation's most far-reaching gun control bill. The bill establishes the nation's first statewide registry for people convicted of crimes involving dangerous weapons.

LaGuercia could not be reached for comment Thursday at the store, which continues to sell ammunition, clothes and other accessories, according to a female employee, who declined to give her name.

In December, LaGuercia said in a statement that he was "absolutely appalled" to learn that a gun he sold to Nancy Lanza may have been used by her son, Adam, in the Newtown massacre.

"There is nothing more devastating than the loss of a child, and I am absolutely appalled that the product that was sold several years ago would be used in this type of crime," he said in the statement at the time. "Our hearts go out to the victims' families and, as a father of three, I know firsthand of a parent's loss and it's the worst nightmare.

"We are cooperating with law enforcement in their efforts to get to the bottom of this senseless tragedy," he said.

Contributing: John Bacon and Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY