Man charged in theft of gun used in mass shooting

A Rochester man has been accused of involvement in the theft of the AK-47 used in the August drive-by shooting outside the Boys & Girls Club that left three men dead and four wounded.

On Wednesday, federal authorities charged Ramel Robinson with possession of the stolen firearm, which was one of three weapons inside a gun safe stolen from an apartment at 1070 Lake Ave. on July 29.

Robinson admitted stealing the gun safe with Johnny Blackshell, who is one of two men now accused of first-degree murder in the mass shooting on Genesee Street, according to an affidavit from Patrick Hoffman, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

More coverage: Triple homicide on Genesee Street

Killer AK-47 traced to burglary

Robinson allegedly said he and Blackshell forced the gun safe open at another location and Blackshell took the AK-47.

The AK-47, which has been linked through ballistics to the killings, was found after the homicides under the porch of a Clay Avenue home.

Robinson is already in federal custody, accused of the theft of firearms in a separate incident.

Police have acknowledged that they found the car — a 2006 Suzuki — used in the shootings. Two casings found in the car match casings test-fired from the recovered AK-47, authorities say.

Rochester police this week arrested Jalen Jamel Everett, 20, and charged him with first-degree murder in the killings. Blackshell, 21, was charged last month.

gcraig@gannett.com