Largest number of guns ever seized at once in Allegheny Co. history

NORTH FAYETTE, Pa. — Police made a record-setting find inside a local home: the largest number of guns ever seized at once in Allegheny County history.

Police confiscated more than 500 guns inside a man's North Fayette home.

Officers were there for a totally different case when they spotted the weapons.

Investigators had their hands full when they showed up at Gary Guyaux's home.

They tell Channel 11 it was not only a dangerous situation for them, but also for neighbors, who had filed numerous complaints over the years.

"Neighbors that were concerned, obvious they didn't know at the time what was actually in the house,” said Chief Marc O’Donnell with North Fayette Police. “It was a nuisance with the dogs."

Almost 600 guns were recovered, including assault rifles, a rocket launcher and several handguns.

Police say almost three years ago, they received a complaint about animal cruelty.

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They found almost 40 dogs living there.

The case progressed and eventually a plea agreement was reached, but Guyaux never completed it.

A bench warrant was then issued and Guyaux was picked up for possession of firearm without a license.

Police got a court order to seize firearms from the home.

When police got to the house, they say, many of the guns were loaded, some were stolen, and most were not secured.

"They were scattered throughout the house and it took three days to locate 586 firearms. Obviously, once you take possession of the firearms, you have to ... make the guns safe," said Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus.

Police say Guyaux was well-known and it was clear to them he was dangerous from the beginning.

According to police, he had threatened an officer while behind bars and was already serving time.

They knew he had weapons because he was a licensed firearms dealer, but didn't think the situation would be anything like what they found.

"House was in deplorable condition. He was a hoarder and it made it very difficult to locate and seize the firearms," O’Donnell said.

That house along Noblestown Road is now demolished after police got a court order from the family.

Investigators told Channel 11 they knew they were walking into a dangerous situation not just because of the living conditions, but because of Guyaux's alleged threats.

"We did have info and intelligence that he was highly unstable,” Kraus said. “He was very violent and it was relayed to us that he wasn't afraid to shoot it out with the police."

Police say the guns that have been recovered are now in a storage area and will likely be destroyed soon.

Guyaux is in jail.

Police say all of the dogs that were seized in the past from his home have been taken to Animal Friends and have since been adopted.

Cox Media Group