Cairo man sentenced to federal prison after gun store burglary

A Cairo man was sentenced to 3.5 years in federal prison for a 2020 gun store burglary.

Twenty-one-year-old Chayce Harrell was sentenced Tuesday for his role in the Cape Girardeau burglary. He was also ordered to pay $1,700 in restitution.

Harrell pleaded guilty in December to aiding and abetting the theft of guns from a federally licensed dealer.

According to the plea agreement, Harrell and two accomplices broke into a business the early morning hours of August 7.

Investigators said the group began gathering multiple guns to steal. However, the owner of the business was staying upstairs to keep watch on the property. 

The owner went downstairs and opened fire at the burglars with a shotgun.

The three escaped unharmed, but dropped all but two guns as they left.