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AHOSKIE – A handgun modified to become a fully automatic weapon is now off the streets after being found following a foot chase here Wednesday afternoon.

That chase, which ended in the parking lot of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, resulted in the arrest of Tyrese Lewis Moore, age 18 of Jernigan Airport Road, Ahoskie, as well as a 16-year-old male juvenile.

Moore was charged with possession of a weapon of mass destruction, carrying a concealed gun, and resist/delay/obstruct a police officer. He was jailed under a $10,000 secured bond.

The 16-year-old was served with a juvenile petition and released into the custody of a family member.

The foot chase was preceded by Hertford County Sheriff’s deputies responding to a “shots fired” call on Jernigan Airport Road shortly after 2 p.m. Ahoskie Police were alerted that an older model Honda – tan in color – was possibly occupied by a suspect or suspects involved in the incident and that the vehicle was last seen traveling towards Ahoskie.

A vehicle matching that description was spotted parked at the Tobacco House, located at the intersection of Catherine Creek Road and Main Street.

Ahoskie K9 Patrolman Holden Benton arrived at that location at which time two males exited the suspect vehicle and began running south on Catherine Creek Road. In his report, Benton said he twice gave verbal commands for the two suspects to stop running, but they continued, eventually entering the News-Herald parking lot where they were apprehended by Benton, K9 “Adam” and Ahoskie Police Sgt. Michael Kellett.

Prior to his arrest, Moore was alleged to have tossed a handgun over a fence separating the newspaper’s parking lot from the back yards of residences located along Parker Avenue.

After the two suspects were secured inside Ahoskie Police vehicles, a search was conducted of that area at which time the handgun – a Glock 21 with an illegal switch mechanism that makes it fully automatic – was discovered. That weapon also had an extended magazine.

Benton said he was provided with video from a residential home security camera that showed the fleeing suspect (Moore) with a pistol in his hand before tossing it over the fence.

Ahoskie Police Chief Michele Garrett praised the work of her two officers, saying they were able to take a dangerous weapon off the street.