Gun used to shoot NYPD officer traced back to Georgia pawn shop

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The investigation into the shooting of NYPD Officer Brian Moore is focusing on the gun used in the shooting, and how it and so many others make it into our area through the so-called iron pipeline.

Ballistic tests link bullets in the officer's car to the gun, a Taurus model 85, .38 caliber, found in a nearby backyard.

Another gun fragment recovered from the officer's body is still being tested to see if there is a link there.

Now there is disturbing information about the gun and where it came from.

Police released security video from October 2011 when the revolver used to kill Officer Moore was stolen along with 22 other guns.

Then in December at the same store, another burglary, this time with rifles stolen.

It sounds hard to believe but police confirm that revolver used to kill Moore was traced back to one pawn shop in Perry, Georgia, Little Bait and Tackle.

"It was part of 23 guns that were stolen at a bait and tackle shop down in Georgia. Nine of those guns have since found its way to the streets of New York and we've made arrests in regards," said NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce.

Nine of ten recovered guns from the one store, have turned up in New York.

There are now demands that the ATF do something about what's called the iron pipeline, stolen and purchased guns shipped directly north to New York.

"But they ought to focus the resources they have on this iron pipeline, on the gun runners, the gun traffickers that buy the guns in Georgia, they know who they are and sell them here in New York," said Sen. Charles Schumer.

On Saturday three shots were fired, and police say two bullets recovered from Officer Moore's police cruiser have now been linked to that stolen .38 caliber revolver.